The  person  charging  this  material  is  re- 
sponsible for  its  return  to  the  library  from 
which  it  was  withdrawn  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below. 

Theft,  mutilation,  and  underlining  of  books  are  reasons 
for  disciplinary  action  and  may  result  in  dismissal  from 
the  University. 

To  renew  call  Telephone  Center,  333-8400 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  LIBRARY  AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


UNIVERSITY  Of 
ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/proceedingsoffir01sout 


SOUTHERN 


OIF1  A-IMIEIIR/IQA.. 


Organized  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  October  11,  1883. 
Reorganized  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  11-13,  1884. 


OFFICERS: 


President Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER, 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 

Secretary 8.  H.  NOWLIN 


Nashville,  Tenn. 


Little  Rock,  Ark. 
Nashville,  Tenn. 


Treasurer SAM’L  J.  KEITH 

President  Fourth  National  Bank. 


Vice-Presidents.  Alabama — Hon.  Leslie  E.  Brooks.  Mobile;  Arkansas — 
Hon.  Thos.  Essex,  Little  Rock;  Florida — Gen.  W.  H.  Seibring,  Bronson;  Geor- 
gia— Hon.  H.  S.  Morse,  Brunswick;  Kentucky — J.  R.  Procter,  Frankfort;  Lou- 
isiana— Hon.  W.  H.  Harris,  New  Orleans;  Mississippi — Hon.  E.  G.  Wall,  Jack- 
son;  Missouri — Ex-Gov.  E.  0.  Stanard,  St.  Louis;  North  Carolina — Hon.  M. 
McGee,  Raleigh;  South  Carolina — Hon.  A.  P.  Butler,  Columbia;  Tennessee — 
Hon.  Rob’t  Gates,  Jackson;  Texas — Gen.  J.  B.  Robertson,  Waco;  Virginia — 
Hon.  Robert  Beverly,  The  Plains;  West  Virginia — Hon.  A.  W.  Campbell, 
Wheeling. 

Directors.  Alabama — John  G.  Cullman,  Cullman;  Arkansas — Col.  Logan 
H.  Roots,  Little  Rock;  Florida — Col.  Win.  D.  Chipley,  Pensacola;  Georgia — R. 
B.  Repherd,  Savannah;  Kentucky— Gen.  John  Echolls,  Louisville;  Louisiana— 
Maj.  E.  A.  Burke,  New  Orleans;  Mississippi — Hon.  C.  E.  Hooker,  Jackson; 
Missouri — Hon.  Andrew  McKinley,  St.  Louis;  North  Carolina — Gov.  Thomas  J. 
Jarvis,  Raleigh;  South  Carolina — E.  C.  Sell,  Charleston;  Tennessee — Col.  E. 
W.  Cole,  Nashville;  Texas — W.  H.  Abrams,  Dallas;  Virginia — Col.  A.  Pope, 
Roanoke;  West  Virginia — Hon.  Wm.  A.  Quarrier,  Charleston. 


The  territory  embraced  in  the  Association  is  as  follows : The  States 
of  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Florida,  Georgia,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Mis- 
sissippi, Missouri,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Texas, 
Virginia  and  West  Virginia. 

The  objects  of  the  Association  are  to  secure  and  promote  the  co- 
operation of  the  several  mentioned  States  in  sustaining  an  enterprise 
for  the  mutual  development  of  their  latent  resources ; to  establish  im- 
migrant homes  at  such  Southern  seaports  as  the  managers  may  deem 
necessary ; to  encourage  immigration  to  said  States ; to  gather,  publish 
and  distribute  statistics,  maps  and  other  literature,  upon  the  Agricul- 
tural, Mining,  Manufacturing,  Educational  and  other  interests  of  the 
South  ; to  make  contracts  for  the  settlement  of  immigrants  in  said 
States ; and  to  establish  Agencies  at  such  places,  and  with  such  pow- 
ers and  duties  as  the  Association  may  from  time  to  time  designate. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  Association  as  chartered  is  a minimum  of 
$50,000  and  a maximum  of  $500,000,  in  shares  of  $5  each.  It  is  de- 
sired that  this  stock  be  taken  as  near  as  possible  equally  between  the 
fourteen  States.  It  is  the  object  of  the  management  to  establish  as 
soon  as  possible  emigrant  entrepots  at  one  or  more  Southern  ports,  and 
afford  all  the  States  mentioned,  and  corporations  in  those  States,  ample 
facilities  for  the  distribution  of  printed  immigration  matter  through 
agencies  in  foreign  countries,  and  at  the  same  time  educate  the  people 
of  the  United  States  and  British  Provinces  to  the  fact  that  the  South  is 
the  finest  and  best  portion  of  the  habitable  globe  now  open  to  settle- 
ment, and  offers  more  inducements  to  honest  industry  and  capital  than 
any  other  country  on  earth.  The  Association  has  been  chartered  and 
organized  under  the  laws  of  Tennessee,  and  the  same  will  be  registered 
under  the  laws  of  each  of  the  fourteen  mentioned  States,  thereby  mak- 
ing it  what  it  purports  to  be,  an  institution  of  the  South. 


Za.'S'.oc 

V.  I 

PROCEEDINGS 

OF  THE 

Southern  Immigration  Association. 


President  A.  J.  McWhirter,  of  the  Association,  called 
the  meeting  to  order. 

Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Leftwich  opened  the  proceedings  with 
a prayer  appropriate  to  the  occasion. 

gov.  bate’s  address  of  welcome. 

Gov.  Bate  then  came  forward  and  delivered  an  ad- 
dress of  welcome  to  the  visiting  members,  which  was 
listened  to  with  profound  interest.  His  speech  was 
characteristic  of  the  man — full  of  solid  facts,  earnest  and 
eloquent.  He  was  glad  he  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
the  representatives  of  so  many  States  whose  interest 
was  so  closely  allied,  and  that  the  duty  assigned  him 
was  a pleasing  one  and  one  he  delighted  to  perform. 
The  people  of  Tennessee  extended  to  the  delegates  of 
the  Association  an  unstinted  welcome.  He  referred  to 
the  capabilities  and  possibilities  of  the  South,  and  par- 
ticularly to  her  water  power,  which,  by  science,  would 
be  powerful  enough  to  turn  the  machinery  of  the  uni- 
verse. He  spoke  of  the  immense  fields  of  wealth  hid- 
den in  the  mountains  and  valleys  of  Tennessee  and  the 
Southland.  The  man  with  the  pick  and  those  with  the 
saw  and  hammer  were  cordially  invited  to  come  among 
us  and  aid  us  in  developing  our  vast  resources.  The 


6 


Proceedings  of  the 

South  had  been  idle,  but  she  was  no  longer  so.  Immi- 
gration brings  population,  and  population  wealth.  She 
had  slumbered  long,  but  a new  feeling,  a new  energy 
has  awakened  her.  She  is  being  aroused,  and  the  cloud 
which  hung  over  her  so  long  has  been  dispersed,  the 
glad  sunshine  is  beginning  to  peer  through  the  drifting 
clouds  of  sorrow,  and  the  land  is  beginning  to  smile. 
Tennessee,  Louisiana,  Florida,  Missouri,  Alabama, 
Texas,  Georgia,  Arkansas,  South  Carolina,  North  Car- 
olina, Kentucky,  and  West  Virginia  were  represented 
here  and  invited  immigration.  He  regretted  that  old 
Virginia  was  not  here,  with  her  “ sic  semper  tyrannis!  ” 
God  bless  her!  “Gentlemen,”  said  the  Governor,  in 
conclusion,  “Tennessee,  her  chivalry  and  her  beauty, 
welcome  you.” 

Gov.  Crittenden,  of  Missouri,  was  introduced  by  Gov. 
Bate,  who  said:  “It  affords  me  very  great  pleasure  to 
present  to  you  the  Hon.  Thos.  T.  Crittenden,  Governor 
of  our  sister  State  of  Missouri.  He  is  one  of  the  noblest 
specimens  of  a noble  State,  and  the  representative  of  a 
noble  cause. 


gov.  Crittenden’s  address. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen — I came  here  in  obedience  to 
an  invitation  to  attend  a meeting  of  the  Southern 
Immigration  Association,  not  so  much  with  a disposi- 
tion to  participate  in  it  as  a delegate  as  by  my  presence 
to  give  it  the  endorsement  of  the  State  of  Missouri. 
The  intimate  relations  existing  between  Missouri  and 
the  South  are  very  strong.  They  are  bound  together 
by  business,  social,  family  ties,  similarity  in  laws  and 
customs,  so  that  anything  that  tends  to  the  advancement 
of  the  South  in  some  degree  tends  to  the  advancement 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  7 

of  Missouri’s  interests,  and  vice  versa.  Properly  speak- 
ing, Missouri  is  not  a Southern  State,  belonging  as  she 
does  by  her  geographical  position  to  the  West,  but  there 
is  nothing  that  goes  to  build  up  the  commercial  and 
financial  greatness  of  the  South  that  does  not,  more  or 
less,  affect  the  interest  of  Missouri.  I felt,  therefore, 
that  it  was  my  duty  as  Governor  of  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri, to  appear  in  this  convention  with  a view  to  culti- 
vating these  social  and  business  relations  with  this  sec- 
tion to  a greater  extent  than  have  heretofore  attained, 
and  beg  to  represent  among  others  the  large  number  ol 
Tennesseans  who  are  now  residents  in  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri, and  who  feel  and  always  have  felt,  a deep  interest 
in  everything  that  tends  to  the  advancement  of  the  in- 
terests of  their  native  State. 

This  convention  is  one  of  the  most  important  happen- 
ings in  the  history  of  the  South.  Not  so  much  from  the 
number  of  delegates  and  the  sections  represented,  but 
because  it  is  the  germ,  the  organization  of  a scheme 
which  must  inevitably  redound  to  the  greatness  of  the 
South.  The  Western  States  have  in  the  past  adopted 
such  means  as  have  secured  a large  immigration  from 
both  the  Eastern  States  and  foreign  countries,  and  that 
immigration,  in  addition  to  our  own  energy  and  thrift, 
has  developed  those  States  into  a strong  and  controlling 
power  in  the  Government.  The  South  has  only  to  pur- 
sue the  same  course  to  reap  the  same  rewards.  And 
" when  the  South  and  West  are  joined  together  in  a great 
commercial  power  they  will  have  a controlling  and  de- 
cided voice  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  This 
will  give  us  the  means  necessary  to  build  up  our  arteries 
of  commerce — our  rivers — so  long  rendered  useless  for 
the  want  of  sufficient  appropriation.  The  leading  men 
of  these  two  sections  can  no  longer  neglect  these  great 


8 


Proceedings  of  the 

interests.  We  hear  the  tread  of  coming  generations 
and  their  voices  demanding  that  we  shall  pursue  such  a 
course  as  will  furnish  room,  means,  facilities  and  com- 
merce for  their  employment  and  accommodation. 

Nature  has  bestowed  upon  the  South  all  the  elements 
of  a great  country,  and  we  must  use  our  best  endeavors 
to  develop  these  great  resources.  I believe  in  the  in- 
finite power  of  God,  and  bow  my  head  in  thanks  for  the 
great  good  he  has  bestowed  upon  this  common  country 
of  ours,  the  South  and  the  West,  and  acknowledge  the 
possibilities  of  a great  country  being  developed  out  of 
these  natural  gifts,  but  at  the  same  time  I believe  in 
that  Napoleonic  idea  that  God  gives  the  results  of  vic- 
tories as  much  to  long  guns  and  many  guns  as  he  does, 
to  the  discipline  and  energy  of  the  soldiers.  We  must 
do  our  part  now  in  this  great  work,  and  if  we  do  not  we 
will  hereafter  be  held  to  a responsibility  fearful  to  con- 
template. 

The  war  desolated  the  South,  it  is  true  ; but  at  the 
same  time  it  developed  in  its  people  wonderful  ingenui- 
ty, applicability  and  enterprise,  and  gave  impetus  to  the 
development  of  those  marvelously  rich  resources  of 
which  her  people  are  so  justly  proud. 

I was  on  the  other  side,  fighting  in  the  ranks  over 
which  waves  the  flag  that  now  designates  our  common 
country,  and  it  is  useless  for  me  to  give  my  reasons  for 
so  doing,  for  the  day  for  consideration  of  matters  like 
that  has  long  passed,  and  the  lessons  learned  from  the 
war  show  that  it  is  not  entirely  to  be  regretted,  and  the 
new  South  will  be  more  prosperous  than  it  ever  was  in 
its  palmiest  days.  If  this  day  has  not  already  come, 
when  it  does  arrive  the  people  will  not  look  so  much 
with  feelings  of  regret  upon  the  past  as  they  will  look 
with  intensified  interest  upon  the  happenings  of  the 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  9 

present,  and  the  hopes  that  are  continually  being  real- 
ized, and  the  bright  prospects  for  the  future. 

In  the  South  are  those  great  national  waterways,  which, 
if  properly  controlled  and  improved,  will  contribute  to  it  a 
wealth  far  greater  and  a position  far  more  prominent  in 
the  sisterhood  of  States  than  it  has  ever  enjoyed  in  the 
past.  A few  years  ago  we  had  an  open  river  from  St. 
Paul  to  New  Orleans,  the  natural  highway  of  the  com- 
merce of  the  West  and  the  South,  but  its  mouth  was 
blocked  so  that  for  the  want  of  some  capital  commerce 
at  this  great  outlet  was  in  a manner  paralized.  Con- 
gress, however,  made  a sufficient  appropriation,  and  a 
genius — Captain  Eads — was  found,  who,  in  the  face  of 
the  unfavorable  prediction  of  nearly  all  of  his  brother  en- 
gineers, made  the  outlet  of  the  Mississippi  into  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  as  I was  told  by  the  Captain  of  an  English 
vessel  a short  time  ago,  navigable  for  the  largest  sized 
ships  that  carry  on  the  commerce  between  the  nations 
over  the  high  seas.  This  has  opened  up  commerce  to 
the  markets  of  the  world,  and  makes  our  land  so  much 
the  more  valuable.  I predict  that  with  the  proper 
amount  appropriated,  Galveston,  Texas,  and  Brunswick, 
Georgia,  will  become  great  ports,  and  so  will  many  other 
Southern  harbors. 

There  is  no  reason  why  the  South  should  not  have 
these  harbors  and  other  means  of  access  by  which  they 
can  send  their  most  valuable  staples  to  the  markets  of 
the  world.  There  is  no  reason  why  she  should  not 
possess  that  great  prestige  that  her  natural  wealth, 
mineral  and  agricultural,  should  give  her. 

Why  should  articles  from  her  iron  and  cotton  be  man- 
ufactured beyond  her  borders,  and  the  articles  made  of 
them  be  reshipped  and  resold  to  her  with  all  the  inter- 
vening profits  ? I see  no  reason. 


io  Proceedings  of  the 

No,  with  the  proper  economy  which  has  already  been 
taught  in  this  section,  the  resources  can  be  made  to 
prove  of  the  great  advantage  to  her  that  they  have  to 
other  sections  of  this  country,  and  even  foreign  nations. 

Gov.  Bate  here  introduced  Gen.  C.  E.  Hooker,  of 
Mississippi,  saying  : “ I am  glad  to  present  the  repre- 
sentative of  Mississippi,  a man  well  known  to  you  as 
having  carved  out  for  himself  a most  exalted  name  in 
your  national  councils.  Now,  fellow-citizens,  he  speaks 
for  Mississippi,  known  for  its  chivalry  and  glory,  and  if 
one  excels  another  in  any  characteristic,  Mississippi 
does  this  in  the  eloquence  of  her  sons.  [Loud  ap- 
plause.] 

Gen.  Hooker  then  stepped  forward  and  was  received 
with  manifestations  of  enthusiasm. 

GEN.  HOOKER’S  ADDRESS. 

Mr.  Chairman , Ladies  and  Gentlemen — I regret  ex- 
ceedingly that  the  Governor  of  my  State  could  not 
have  been  here  to-day  to  have  responded,  as  he  would 
have  done,  and  said  something  for  Mississippi ; but  he 
has  been  detained,  in  consequence  of  the  sitting  of  the 
Legislature  of  his  State,  by  business.  I have  accepted 
the  invitation  so  kindly  extended  to  consult  with  you  in 
reference  to  the  purposes  and  objects  for  which  this 
convention  has  been  called  together.  As  it  has  been 
especially  requested  that  I should  speak  to-morrow  or 
next  day  in  reference  to  the  subject  of  immigration,  I 
expected  to-day  to  listen  to  the  speeches  of  others.  But 
I cannot  decline  to  say  something  in  behalf  of  my  own 
State.  I have  listened  to  the  hospitable  and  eloquent 
address  of  Gov.  Bate  to  the  people  of  the  States  who 
have  representatives  here,  and  I feel  that  if  I hear 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 1 1 

nothing  else  but  addresses  of  welcome  beautifully 
descriptive  of  the  vast  resources  of  the  country,  I will 
have  been  amply  compensated  for  the  trip  made  from 
Mississippi  to  Tennessee.  I am  on  your  soil  not  for  the 
first  time,  but  at  your  capital  for  the  first  time.  I have 
been  familiar  with  the  history,  but  never  before  to-day 
have  I visited  the  capital  of  the  great  State  of  Tennes- 
see, which  stands  at  the  threshold,  as  it  were,  of  the 
South.  I have  said  I have  visited  other  portions  of  the 
State.  I have  been  struck  with  the  fertility  of  the  beau- 
tiful hills  surrounding  Nashville  ; with  your  fertile  val- 
leys ; with  your  lofty  mountains,  surrounded  sometimes 
in  sunshine  and  sometimes  in  storm.  I have  ceased  to 
wonder  that  such  a country  should  produce  heroes 
amongst  men  and  heroines  amongst  women.  As  has 
well  been  said  by  the  distinguished  Governor  of  Mis- 
souri, we  are  here  to-day  assembled  in  the  interest  of 
the  great  resources  of  the  South,  resources  hitherto 
lying,  as  it  were,  hidden  in  the  bed  of  nature  untouched 
by  scientific  hand.  An  American  drew  from  heaven 
that  electric  power  which  to-day  spans  mountains  and 
spreads,  by  submarine  cables,  intelligence  over  the  en- 
tire world.  An  American  made  the  jetties  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Great  Father  of  Waters  and  so  deepened  the 
channel  that  enabled  ships  of  the  largest  tonnage  to 
float  out  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  was  left  to  an 
American  to  make  the  first  application  of  steam  power. 
It  began  in  the  harbor  of  New  York.  But  when  the 
boat  steamed  out  some  of  the  machinery  gave  way,  and 
the  distinguished  men  who  had  gone  out  upon  her  were 
ready  to  exclaim,  “I  told  you  so!”  Soon,  however, 
said  the  great  builder,  “ Give  me  half  an  hour  in  which 
to  repair  the  damages.”  They  waited  until  the  dam- 
ages were  repaired  and  the  little  vessel  began  to  move 


1 2 Proceedings  of  the 

up  the  Hudson,  through  the  palisades,  then  along  the 
crowned  mountains,  and  finally  reached  Troy.  Amer- 
ican enterprise  and  ingenuity  made  the  application  of 
steam  for  the  propulsion  of  vessels.  We  have  seen  an- 
other genius  of  America.  He  inaugrated  an  enterprise 
which  began  with  the  source  of  the  Mississippi  River — 
from  one  single  spring  in  the  mountains — and  now  flow- 
ing freely  and  without  obstruction  into  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico. So  all  great  enterprises  begin  with  a few  people. 
Some  one  man  or  set  of  men,  men  with  genius  and  ap- 
plication like  the  distinguished  chairman  of  this  conven- 
tion, who  has  determined  that  the  latent  resources  of 
the  South  should  be  developed.  [Applause.]  So  I 
have  said  it  was  left  to  a distinguished  scientist  to 
deepen  the  channel  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi. 
An  English  Captain  remarked,  “ I can  go  with  my  ves- 
sel broadside  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  where 
I only  had  seventeen  feet  of  water  originally.  It  was 
left  to  Eades  to  make  the  effort  to  throw  aside  the  great 
bar  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  when  he  started  that 
enterprise  there  was  but  one  of  the  regular  engineers  of 
the  United  States  Army  said  that  it  could  be  accom- 
plished. He  was  left  to  overcome  the  fears  of  those 
who  said  it  could  not  be  accomplished.  But  he  was 
successful.  The  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  was  relieved 
of  obstruction  and  the  river  made  navigable  from  that 
point  to  the  highest  source  of  navigation.  It  was  my 
fortune  to  pass  over  some  portions  of  Ohio  and  Penn- 
sylvania. I was  told  by  gentlemen  farmers  who  lived 
along  the  lines  of  road  of  Pennsylvania,  and  especially 
in  the  Lancaster  district,  that  land  was  worth  $250  per 
acre,  and  not  for  sale  at  that  price.  He  also  said  that 
lands  within  two  hundred  miles  of  the  State  capital 
ranged  in  price  from  $50  to  $200  per  acre.  Across  the 


Sojcthern  Immigration  Association.  13 

Ohio,  where  there  is  sunshine  and  flowers,  with  greater 
fertility  of  soil,  strange  to  say,  land  can  be  bought  for 
$10  to  $25  per  acre.  Why  is  it?  Is  there  a solution  to 
the  difficulty  ? It  is  capable  of  being  solved  but  one 
way — to  such  a combination  as  shall  extend  to  and  em- 
brace every  Southern  State.  To  invite  immigration 
and  capital.  To  make  public  the  interesting  points 
concerning  the  fertility  of  our  soils,  agricultural  and 
mineral  products.  Let  us  put  our  shoulders  to  the 
wheel  and  move  on  to  a greater  future,  to  a greater 
prosperity.  The  West  and  South  have  1,500,000  miles 
of  water  united  with  7,000  miles  of  railroads,  united  by 
iron  bands  and  water  courses,  and  therefore  whatever  is 
done  for  the  one  will  necessarily  be  done  for  the  other. 
Congress  should  be  urged  to  develop  all  these  great 
water  courses.  We  are  entitled  to  it  by  the  taxes  paid. 

Like  all  of  us,  we  would  like  to  see  the  Convention 
meet  with  success  and  finally  be  able  to  say  to  eastern 
and  western  friends  that  we  offer  to  them  a soil,  climate 
and  population  unsurpassed  and  a system  of  laws  invit- 
ing the  energy  of  people  all  over  the  world. 

We  speak  for  the  great  State  which  I have  the  honor 
in  part  to  represent,  lying  along  the  great  river  from 
which  it  takes  its  name,  it  joins  hands  in  the  common 
enterprise  of  building  up  our  States  and  the  energies  of 
the  South. 

We  think  the  source  of  power  is  in  the  agricultural 
and  industrial  pursuits,  sp  to  govern  power  whether  in 
Congress  or  in  the  Legislatures  it  is  intended  to  use  all 
the  powers,  physical,  material,  social  and  political,  not 
for  the  purpose  of  injuring  anybody. 

It  was  not  my  fortune  to  be  on  the  side  of  Gov.  Crit- 
tenden, but  I shake  hands  with  him  for  the  benefit  of  the 
country,  for  its  general  development.  While  it  was  my 


4 


Proceeduigs  of  the 

fortune  to  be  on  that  side,  I have  yet  to  meet  a single 
man  of  the  north,  nor  a man  in  the  Union  army,  who 
did  not  appreciate  the  motives,  sacrifices  and  perils  of 
the  men  who  fought  on  our  side  and  gave  them  credit 
for  fighting  for  what  they  believed  to  be  right.  But  the 
country  has  been  restored  under  a common  flag. 

President  McWhirter  returned  thanks  for  the  speech 
from  the  gentleman  from  Mississippi,  and  said  that  Gen. 
Hooker  would  deliver  an  address  to-morrow  upon  the 
Resources  and  Possibilities  of  Mississippi. 

Col.  McWhirter,  after  having  been  warmly  received 
by  the  audience,  taking  the  stand,  said  : 

The  importance  of  the  work  which  this  Convention  is 
assembled  to  inaugurate  is  indeed  stupendous.  Rarely 
do  issues  present  themselves  to  any  people  of  a grander 
significance  than  those  which  have  called  us  together  at 
this  time  for  deliberation.  In  political  economy,  as  in 
physiological  organisms,  stagnation  of  nutrition  is  always 
the  precursor  of  disorganization  and  death.  The  influx  of 
new  material  into  the  organic  structure  of  a nation  is 
not  only  healthful  but  necessary  to  its  life.  No  land, 
however  varied  and  vast  its  resources,  can  ever  approach 
perfection  and  development  or  witness  the  full  expan- 
sion of  its  possibilities  by  perpetual  identity  of  popula- 
tion. A vigorous  vitality  is  only  obtained  through  va- 
riety of  agents  as  well  as  material. 

Herbert  Spencer  has  shown  us  that  development  is 
always  in  proportion  to  the  prevalence  of  heterogeneity 
over  homogeneity  ; and  this  law  is  a general  one  gov- 
erning the  development  of  nations  as  well  as  individuals. 
An  exclusive  system  of  political  economy  has  ever  re- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  15 

suited  in  paralysis  and  decline.  We  of  the  South  have 
felt  the  poisonous  influence  of  this  Upas  power  of  ex- 
clusiveness in  national  development  so  strongly  that 
with  all  of  our  broad  acres  bursting  with  fertility,  and 
our  industrial  and  mineral  resources,  boundless  as  they 
are,  stand  to-day  far  behind  other  countries  to  whose 
limited  possibilities  of  development  our  own  appear  fab- 
ulous as  the  tales  of  Arabian  fancy.  But  the  work  that 
is  to  be  begun  by  this  Convention  is  the  scaffolding  of  a 
new  South. 

In  many  respects,  gentlemen,  the  work  that  you  are 
assembled  here  at  this  time  to  accomplish  is  very  simi- 
lar, both  in  nature  and  significance,  to  that  done  for  the 
colonies  by  their  representatives  of  ’76.  You  are  about 
to  inaugurate  measures  which  will  make  a new  country 
out  of  a land  grander  in  its  possibilities,  and  yet  more 
fettered  in  its  development,  than  any  upon  which  the 
sun  of  Heaven  shines. 

The  immigration  movement  is  to  be  the  great  revolu- 
tionary power  in  the  political  economy  of  the  South, 
and  your  deliberations  here  at  this  time  will  largely  de- 
termine its  future.  You  are  thrice  welcome  to  our 
midst. 

In  the  days  to  come,  Southern  men  of  future  genera- 
tions will  look  to  this  day  as  the  birthday  of  their  ma- 
terial development,  and  upon  this  Convention  as  the 
originator  of  a new  era  in  Southern  history. 

To  you,  gentlemen,  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  present 
the  needs  of  Southern  immigration.  Your  very  pres- 
ence here  indicates  your  knowledge  of  this  need,  and 
your  determination  to  supply  it.  It  is  for  you  to  pro- 
nounce the  open  sesame  to  the  buried  treasures  of  the 
South.  Her  resources,  boundless  as  they  are,  lie  unde- 
veloped. There  they  are,  lying  in  the  soil  of  these 


1 6 Proceedings  of  the 

fourteen  Southern  States — extending  from  the  western 
banks  of  the  Potomac  to  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains — 

Day  after  day,  day  after  day, 

With  neither  sound  nor  motion  ; 

As  idle  as  a painted  ship 
Upon  a painted  ocean. 

But  immigration  will  fill  those  sails  and  move  those 
waves.  These  lovely  hills  and  plains  and  valleys  will 
spring  into  life  as  darkness  breaks  into  morning  at  the 
touch  of  Aurora’s  rosy  fingers,  and  the  world  will  look 
to  us  as  the  new  Eldorado  of  civilization  and  the  home 
and  the  refuge  for  the  thrifty,  but  needy  and  oppressed 
people  of  other  lands. 

Gentlemen,  we  welcome  you  to  this  stupendous  work. 

The  Association  then  adjourned  to  8 o’clock  p.  m. 

ADDRESS  OF  DR.  J.  M.  SAFFORD. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Safford,  Geologist  of  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see and  Professor  of  Geology,  Mineralogy  and  Etimol- 
ogy,  Vanderbilt  University,  Nashville,  Tennessee,  then 
delivered  the  following  address  : 

The  natural  features  and  resources  of  the  South  are 
varied  in  a marked  degree.  In  topography  there  are, 
on  the  one  hand,  bold  and  rugged  mountains  ; on  the 
other,  great  alluvial  plains  with  intervening  zones  of 
plateaus,  prairies,  and  wide  rolling  uplands.  Witness 
the  Unakas  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  the  great- 
est mountain  mass  to  be  found,  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  on  the  continent,  whose  peaks  are  clothed 
with  a Canadian  flora  and  whose  rocks  are  repositories 
of  minerals  and  ores  known  and  unknown.  Witness,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  vast  alluvial  plain  of  the  Mississippi 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  17 

river,  with  an  area  large  enongh  and  a soil  rich  enough 
to  support  a nation,  reaching  from  the  region  of  wheat 
and  tobacco  to  that  of  rice  and  sugar-  cane.  Then  note 
the  great  sweep  of  black  prairie  and  cotton  lands  of 
Texas,  Mississippi,  Alabama  and  Georgia;  the  calcareo- 
sandy  lands  of  Florida,  where  groves  of  orange  trees 
grow,  weighted  with  burdens  of  unequalled  fruit ; the 
belts  of  lands  of  pine  forests  extending,  more  or  less 
continuously,  in  a great  circle  through  all  the  Atlantic 
and  Gulf  States  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Rio  Grande  ; 
the  calcareous  and  siliceous  valleys,  basins  and  level 
uplands  of  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Missouri, 
Arkansas  and  other  States,  many  of  unsurpassed  fertil- 
ity, nearly  all  of  value  for  their  soils  or  their  timber. 
The  more  we  know  the  field  the  more  are  we  impressed 
with  the  fact  of  great  variety  in  the  physical  features  of 
the  South. 

The  varied  surface  carries  with  it  varied  soils  upon 
which  may  be  grown,  each  in  its  own  belt,  the  whole 
range  of  crops  found  anywhere,  from  Canada  to  Cuba. 
It  carries  with  it  a magnificent  river  system,  watering 
the  land,  supplying  inland  navigation,  and,  in  the 
mountainous  portions,  unlimited  and  unfailing  water 
power. 

With  it,  too,  are  treasures  of  mineral  and  useful  rocky 
products,  from  coals  and  ores  to  ornamental  stones  and 
gems,  from  granite  and  marbles  to  gypsum  and  fertiliz- 
ing phosphorites. 

And  it  is  all  this  that,  with  a mild  and  desirable  cli- 
mate, makes  our  Southland  glow  with  promise,  and  a 
field  specially  inviting  for  all  sorts  of  economic  enter- 
prises and  industries.  Fitting  conditions  are  present 
and  raw  material  without  end.  These  facts  are  becom- 
ing known,  and  multitudes  of  workshops,  factories, 


1 8 Proceedings  of  the 

mills  and  places  of  business,  representing  many  branches 
of  enterprise  hardly  known  before  the  war,  have  sprung 
up  in  our  cities  and  in  nooks  and  corners  of  the  land. 
The  more  these  multiply  the  better.  We  have  seen 
but  the  beginning.  W e shall  rejoice  in  the  invasion  of 
an  army  of  active  men  to  help  us  in  the  work  and  to 
help  as  well  to  enjoy  the  fruits  thereof.  We  cordially 
invite  them  and  take  them  by  the  hand. 

We  already  see  the  promise  of  a symmetry  and  har- 
mony in  the  development  of  the  native  wealth  of  the 
South  that  shall  redound  to  its  greatest,  most  healthful 
and  self-reliant  prosperity,  alike  a blessing  to  all  classes. 

The  mining,  the  farming,  the  mechanical  and  indus- 
trial interests  of  all  kinds  must  and  will  act  in  harmony, 
aiding  and  animating  each  other.  The  times  are  pro- 
pitious for  the  South.  Great  clogs  which  once  impeded 
progress  in  many  desirable  directions,  preventing  a 
wholesome  and  rotund  expansion,  are  now  removed. 
There  is  new  life  and  a new  South.  The  spirit  of  sound 
progress  is  abroad,  a spirit  that  will  alike  unearth  ores, 
plow  soils,  utilize  forests,  grind  grain,  make  engines, 
spin  cotton  as  well  as  produce  it,  neglecting  nothing, 
giving  results  well  balanced  and  well  adjusted. 

To  present  to  you,  on  this  occasion,  Mr.  President 
and  gentlemen,  anything  like  an  adequate  notice  of  the 
mineral  resources  of  the  States  south  of  the  Potomac 
and  Ohio  is  simply  out  of  the  question.  There  is  no 
time  for  it.  Indeed,  it  would  require  a volume.  The 
most  I can  do  is  to  give  but  a few  notes  as  to  the  native 
resources  of  the  South,  and  I trust  that  this,  if  not 
satisfactory,  may  be  at  least  suggestive. 

But  as  a preliminary  matter,  permit  me  here  to  call 
attention  to  a striking  geological,  as  well  as  topograph- 
ical feature  of  the  South,  which  has  much  to  do  with  the 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 19 

distribution  of  its  mineral  and  native  economic  products, 
and  I might  add  of  its  agricultural  and  other  interests. 
The  entire  country  from  Virginia  to  Texas,  taken  as  a 
whole,  is  made  up  of  two  approximately  equal  parts ; 
first,  a highland,  often  mountainous  part,  or  nucleus,  in 
which  the  strata  are.hard  rocks,  a region  of  limestones, 
sandstones,  slates  and  granites,  and  of  coal  and  marbles, 
of  iron,  copper  and  other  ores;  and  secondly,  a lower 
plain  or  sloping  part,  with  strata  of  softer  rocks,  the 
region  of  sandy  and  clayey  strata  and  half- hardened 
limestones,  repositories  of  marls,  lignites  and  phosphate 
rocks.  The  two  parts  stand  in  contrast.  The  first  is 
the  extension  of  northern  coal  fields,  calcareous  blue 
grass  regions,  granite  and  other  rocky  areas  into  the 
very  body  of  the  South  ; the  second,  sloping  gradually 
from  the  mountains,  for  one  to  three  hundred  miles,  to 
the  sea  and  the  Gulf,  with  its  cotton  belts  and  long- 
leaved pines,  is  pre-eminently  the  characteristic  section 
of  the  South.  The  two  are  separated  by  an  old  shore 
line,  distinctly  marked  ; for  the  second  was  born  of  the 
sea  long  after  the  first  became  dry  land.  These  two 
parts  or  sections  ought  to  be  and  are  in  full  sympathy 
with  each  other.  What  the  one  lacks  the  other  can 
supply  ; together  they  have  about  all  the  varied  material 
and  potential  forces  that  an  enterprising  people  require 
to  give  them  a place  as  peer  among  the  best. 

In  the  first  division,  inside  of  the  old  shore  line,  fie 
substantially  our  beds  of  coal  and  iron  ores.  These, 
often  in  close  proximity,  are  our  boast.  Here  as  else- 
where coal  is  the  most  important  mineral  substance. 
The  South  contains  more  than  80,000  square  miles  of 
coal  area  (nearly  81,000)  distributed  among  all  the 
eleven  States  that  lie  within,  or  partly  within,  the  old 
shore  line.  This  is  more  than  six  times  the  coal  area 


20  Proceedings  of  the 

of  Great  Britain  and  a third  more,  to  say  the  least,  than 
the  whole  coal  area  of  Europe.  The  three  greatest 
coal  fields  of  the  United  States  project  into  the  South, 
one  of  them  even  to  the  very  heart  of  Alabama.  The 
coal  is  bituminous  and  semi-bituminous,  there  being 
very  little  anthracite.  There  are  co.king  and  non-coking 
coals,  coking  and  cannel,  gas-making  and  varieties  with- 
out end.  In  chemical  composition  the  tables  of  analysis 
show  them  to  compare  favorably  with  the  most  favored 
localities.  In  some  regions  the  coal  measures  have  a 
thickness  of  from  2,500  to  3,000  feet,  including  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  beds  of  coal,  and  half  of  them  of  work- 
able thickness.  The  output  of  coal  in  the  South  is  by 
no  means  commensurate  with  the  extent  of  the  fields 
and  quantity  of  coal.  But  it  is  rapidly  increasing. 
Alabama  in  1880  produced  340,000  tons  (of  2,240  lbs. 
each);  in  1882,  800,000  tons.  Tennessee  in  1880  pro- 
duced 600,000;  in  1882,  850,000  tons.  Kentucky  in 
1880  produced  1,000,000;  in  1882,  1,300,000  tons.  The 
consumption  of  coal  is  a fair  measure  of  the  industrial 
activities  of  a people.  But  we  cannot  dwell  longer  here. 

In  iron  ores  the  South  is  greatly  favored.  The  coal 
and  the  iron  ore,  as  stated,  often  go  together,  and  where 
such  association  exists  the  very  best  results  are  attain- 
able. The  four  great  iron  ores  are  black  magnetic  ore, 
hematite,  limonite  and  siderite.  The  first  three  are  oxides, 
the  last  is  a carbonate  and  includes  the  black  band  ores 
and  the  clay  iron  stones.  Great  beds  and  deposits  of 
all  these  ores  are  found  in  the  South.  The  carbon- 
ates so  extensively  utilized  in  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania 
have  been  worked  in  Kentucky  and  West  Virginia. 
Hematites,  or  red  ores,  occur  in  quantity  in  Virginia, 
Tennessee,  Alabama  and  Georgia.  In  these  States 
there  is  a belt  of  country  reaching,  indeed,  from  the 


Southern  Immigratio?i  Association.  2 1 

State  of  New  York  far  into  Alabama,  in  which  the  ore 
outcrops  in  numerous  lines  as  a great  red  rock.  These 
outcrops  were  the  feeders  of  many  furnaces  and  forges 
before  the  war,  and  has  been  the  chief  dependence  of 
many  large  establishments  since.  Birmingham  in  Ala- 
bama, a city  springing  up  since  the  war  as  if  by  magic, 
is  on  one  of  the  lines  of  these  outcrops  and  owes  its 
wonderful  growth  to  this  same  red  ore,  together  with 
the  fact  of  its  close  proximity  to  an  ample  supply  of  good 
coal.  But  there  are  many  centers  in  the  coal  and  iron 
regions  of  the  South  where  other  Birminghams  may 
arise  if  pluck  and  energy  will  it.  Other  red  ores  exist 
beside  those  mentioned.  We  cannot  pass  without  nam- 
ing that  great  presentation  of  ore  at  Pilot  Knob,  Mis- 
souri, a wonderful  quarry  of  solid  stratified  masses  of  ore. 

Another  ore  is  limonite,  a hydrated  ore  with  yellow 
powder.  West  of  Nashville  and  between  the  city  and 
the  Tennessee  river  extends  a belt  of  country  from  thir- 
ty to  forty  miles  wide,  reaching  from  Kentucky  to  Ala- 
bama, which  is  spotted  with  rich  and  heavy  deposits  of 
limonite,  many  of  them  untouched.  This  was  a great 
field  for  the  making  of  charcoal  iron  before  the  war. 
Now  there  is  at  least  one  huge  furnace  whose  daily 
product  would  be  a matter  of  astonishment  to  the  old 
iron  masters.  The  same  ore  exists  in  valleys  of  Ala- 
bama in  close  connection  with  the  red.  It  occurs  also 
at  intervals  in  the  foot  hills  of  the  mountains  all  along 
the  eastern  side  of  the  valley  of  Virginia  and  East  Ten- 
nessee down  into  Georgia  and  Alabama.  In  this  range 
it  is  often  associated  with  manganese,  fitting  much  of  it 
the  better  for  the  making  of  steel.  Add  to  these,  depos- 
its in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  the  Carolinas  and  Texas. 
The  ore  is  one  of  the  purest  and  most  abundant  and 
widely  distributed,  found  indeed  in  all  the  States. 


22 


Proceedings  of  the 

Thq  last,  magnetic  ore,  with  a black  powder,  is  met 
with  at  numerous  points  within  the  old  shore  line  in  all 
the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  excepting  Mississippi  and 
Louisiana.  Beds  or  veins  of  it  exist  also  in  Tennessee, 
Arkansas  and  Missouri.  The  localities  are  numerous, 
some  of  great  value.  But  details  are  not  admissible. 

This  review  is  a rapid  one,  but  sufficient  to  show  that 
the  South  is  well  bestrewed  with  iron  ore.  It  is  now 
mined  in  ten  Southern  States.  A vital  point  is  that 
coal,  iron  ore  and  fluxing  material  often  lie  side  by  side, 
and  iron  has  been  and  may  be  produced  at  a lower  cost 
here  than  anywhere  else  in  the  Union.  The  production 
is  increasing,  and  we  shall  soon  look  for  annual  aggre^ 
gates  comparable  to  those  of  the  best  Northern  iron 
regions.  In  1872  the  production  of  pig  metal  in  the 
South  was  333,429  tons,  in  1882  it  was  690,919  tons,  or 
more  than  double,  a greater  ratio  of  increase  than  oc- 
curred in  Pennsylvania  for  the  same  period.  The  most 
of  the  increase  in  the  South  is  to  be  credited  to  Ala- 
bama, Tennessee,  West  Virginia  and  Georgia.  In  Ala- 
bama the  increase  was  nine-fold,  in  Tennessee  and  West 
Virginia  three-fold,  and  in  Georgia  fourteen-fold.  In 
1882  Tennessee  produced  the  most,  137,602  tons;  Ala- 
bama 112,765  tons.  At  this  time  Alabama  is  doubtless 
leading  Tennessee.  The  figures  are  significant.  In 
them  are  seen  not  the  possibilities,  but  the  probabilities 
of  the  future. 

But  what  as  to  other  ores  ? Gold  is  now  mined  in 
six  Southern  States,  copper  ores  in  seven,  silver  in 
three,  zinc  and  lead  both  in  five.  Gold,  copper  and 
silver  are  found  chiefly  in  the  great  metamorphic  and 
mountainous  belt  extending  from  the  Potomac  to  cen- 
tral Alabama,  through  the  States  of  Virginia,  North 
and  South  Carolina,  Tennessee  and  Georgia — a great 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 23 

mineral  region  700  miles  long  and  ranging  from  50  to 
150  wide,  and  abounding  in  ores  and  minerals.  Every 
year  new  developments  are  made  and  we  are  only  be- 
ginning to  unearth  its  treasures.  Here  is  a field  for 
capitalists  and  men  of  mining  tastes  well  worthy  of  at- 
tention— none  better  east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  This 
region  lies  to  the  east  and  parallel  with  the  Alleghany 
coal  field  and  at  no  great  distance  from  it,  so  that  the 
fuel  of  the  one  can  be  utilized  in  the  reduction  of  the 
ores  of  the  other. 

The  gold  produced  in  the  Southern  States  from  1804 
to  1850  aggregated  $15,172,300.  After  the  discovery 
of  gold  in  California  the  product  of  the  South  was  dis- 
regarded until  quite  recently,  when,  we  are  told,  it 
again  appears  as  an  item  in  mining  statistics.  It  now 
promises,  with  improved  methods,  to  be  greater  than 
ever. 

The  copper  produced  in  1882  in  the  Southern  States 
amounted  to  400,000  pounds.  If  we  include  Missouri 
the  amount  is  694,000  pounds. 

Silver  production  is  in  its  infancy.  North  Carolina, 
to  begin  with,  produced  $25,000  in  1882. 

Zinc  and  lead  ores  are  found  not  only  in  the  meta- 
morphic  region  referred  to,  but  more  or  less  in  all  the 
limestone  dolomitic  regions  of  the  South.  Tin  ore  can- 
not be  said  to  be  so  far  successfully  mined  and  reduced 
anywhere  east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  But  it  is  cer- 
tain that  the  most  promising  localities  are  in  the  South 
and  in  Alabama  and  North  Carolina. 

Passing  from  ores  to  other  native  materials,  we  men- 
tion first,  clays.  There  is  a world  of  undeveloped 
wealth  in  the  clays  of  the  South.  There  are  beds  of 
fire  clays  and  pottery  clays  without  number  all  over  its 
area.  The  manufactured  products  of  the  clays  of  the 


24 


Proceedhigs  of  the 

small  State  of  New  Jersey  (small  in  area  only)  aggre- 
gated in  1880  more  than  $5,000,000 — as  much,  says  my 
friend  Mr.  Procter,  State  Geologist  of  Kentucky,  as  the 
product  from  all  the  iron  manufactured  in  Kentucky  for 
the  same  year.  In  the  South  the  same  geological  hori- 
zon as  that  of  New  Jersey  is  grandly  presented  and  the 
clays  accompanying  generally  as  good.  Add  to  these 
the  clays  of  the  coal  measures  and  the  kavlins  of  the 
mountains,  and  imagination  can  find  work  for  a multi- 
tude of  hands.  In  structural  materials  the  South  is  not 
behind  the  most  favored  parts  of  the  Union.  Lime- 
stones, marble,  granites,  slates  and  sandstones  abound. 
We  are  behind  in  production,  but  not  in  quantity  or 
quality.  Let  us  have  men  and  railroads  and  the  figures 
of  statistical  tables  will  present  no  such  contrasts  as  now. 

In  fertilizing  materials  the  South  is  taking  the  lead. 
The  grand  development  of  the  phosphate  rocks  of 
South  Carolina  since  the  war  has  created  a revolution. 
The  civilized  world  gets  its  chief  supply  of  phosphate  of 
lime  for  the  making  of  fertilizers  from  this  source.  An 
aggregate  capital  of  over  $2,000,000  is  engaged  in  min- 
ing the  phosphate.  The  product  in  1883  was  332,077 
tons,  worth  $6  a ton.  This  is  a new  industry  developed 
since  1867,  and  now  within  a few  weeks  we  have  reports 
of  the  discovery  of  similar  beds  in  North  Carolina. 

Other  fertilizing  materials  are  marls  and  gypsum. 
Of  marls  the  South  has  a good  supply.  They  are  gen- 
erally distributed,  but  have  not  received  that  attention 
which  a future  population  will  demand.  Gypsum  is 
found  in  quantity  in  Southern  Virginia. 

In  five  Southern  States  salt  is  manufactured;  $2,273,- 
000  of  capital  are  invested.  Virginia  has  $1,000,000 
invested,  West  Virginia  $910,500,  Louisiana  $250,000, 
Texas  $92,000,  and  Kentucky  $70,500. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  25 

Other  substances  at  present  produced  or  mined  in 
the  South  are  petroleum  in  West  Virginia,  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee;  cement  in  West  Virginia,  Virginia  and 
Kentucky;  mica  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia;  asbes- 
tos in  North  Carolina,  Virginia  and  Maryland  ; soap- 
stone in  Alabama,  North  Carolina  and  Virginia;  graph- 
ite in  Alabama,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina; 
barite  in  Missouri,  Tennessee,  North  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia; pyrite  in  Virginia;  corundum  in  North  Caro- 
lina; manganese  mineral  in  Virginia;  novaculite  and 
antimony  in  Arkansas. 

These  substances  severally  occur  in  other  States  than 
those  mentioned,  but  they  are  not  at  present  mined  ; 
they,  with  many  others  not  enumerated,  await  the  influx 
of  enterprise,  capital  and  skill  to  unearth  them  and  bring 
them  to  the  day. 

Surely  the  South  has  its  full  quota  of  minerals  in  the 
round  of  native  gifts  bestowed  upon  it  by  the  great 
Creator. 

ADDRESS  OF  DR.  CHARLES  MOHR,  BOTANIST,  MOBILE,  ALA. 

Amongst  the  advantages  which  the  Southern  States 
hold  out  to  the  immigrant,  the  forests  covering  the  larg- 
est part  of  their  area  are  most  prominent.  First  in  im- 
portance to  the  interests  of  agriculture  by  their  bene- 
ficial influences  upon  climatic  conditions,  rendering  crops 
more  sure  and  contributing  in  many  other  ways  to  the 
health,  comfort  and  prosperity  of  the  farmer,  they  are 
scarcely  of  less  import  to  those  of  industry  and  com- 
merce by  their  vast  and  varied  timber  wealth.  Coun 
tries  with  a fair  proportion  of  well-timbered  woodlands 
were  at  all  times  the  centers  of  progressive  agriculture 
and  industry,  enjoying  a steady  advancement  in  com- 
merce and  wealth,  supporting  the  largest  number  of 


2.6 


Proceedings  of  the 

prosperous  people,  as  it  is  only  in  such  countries  that 
that  diversity  in  agricultural  pursuits  can  be  attained  so 
essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  bulk  of  the  tillers  of  the 
soil,  with  similar  advantages  for  the  development  of  the 
various  industries.  In  support  of  this  view  we  need 
only  point  to  Germany,  where  the  conservation  and 
management  of  the  woodlands  is  under  the  fostering 
care  of  the  Government,  by  which  those  conditions  in 
the  economy  of  nature  are  maintained  absolutely  essen- 
tial to  the  general  welfare.  In  that  country  the  forest- 
covered  area  is  not  allowed  to  shrink  below  twenty-four 
per  cent  of  that  of  the  whole  empire.  Experience 
teaches  that  with  the  disappearance  of  the  forests  below 
that  limit  the  evils  following  their  destruction  begin  to 
make  themselves  felt.  History  presents  the  most  glar- 
ing examples  of  the  departure  of  the  wealth  and  pros- 
perity of  those  nations  who  recklessly  despoiled  their 
country  of  its  tree  covering.  In  many  of  the  Northern 
States,  particularly  in  those  supporting  scarcely  more 
than  one-half  century  ago  the  greatest  timber  growth, 
the  dangerous  limit  has  been  passed  over  to  an  alarm- 
ing extent,  and  already  are  the  injurious  consequences 
of  its  heedless  destruction  severely  complained  of. 

From  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  river  and  the  adjacent 
regions,  which  within  the  recollection  of  the  present  gen- 
eration could  boast  of  a timber  wealth  deemed  almost 
inexhaustible,  are  heard  expressions  of  the  deepest  con- 
cern about  its  exhaustion  and  the  scarcity  of  the  sup- 
plies to  meet  the  demands  of  the  extensive  manufactur- 
ing enterprises  depending  upon  them.  Serious  as  these 
complaints  are,  of  much  greater  significance  for  the  gen- 
eral good  are,  however,  those  raised  besides  them  about 
the  unfavorable  changes  in  the  climate,  resulting  in  sea- 
sons more  unstable,  in  crops  more  uncertain,  in  an  in- 


27 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

creased  violence  of  atmospheric  currents  and  unwonted 
extremes  of  temperature  and  the  precipitation  of  atmos- 
pheric moisture,  leading  to  calamities  affecting  all  classes 
of  the  people.  It  can  safely  be  asserted  that  in  the 
Gulf  region  to  the  banks  of  the  Trinity  river  in  Eastern 
Texas,  and  in  the  State  of  Arkansas,  fully  seventy  per 
cent  of  the  whole  area  are  covered  with  woodlands,  and 
there  is  little  doubt  that  the  same  can  be  said  of  south- 
western Kentucky,  southern  Tennessee,  the  southwest- 
ern districts  of  the  Carolinas  and  of  the  same  parts  of 
Georgia.  The  vast  resources  of  the  forests  of  the 
Southern  States  have  begun  to  command  the  attention 
of  the  world,  and  are  attracting  an  influx  of  capital  and 
labor  which  within  a near  future  will  render  this  section 
of  our  country  the  great  center  of  the  lumber  interests 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  This  statement  I hope 
to  sustain  by  a brief  review  of  the  different  forest  regions 
of  the  South,  with  a consideration  of  their  supplies  in 
soft  and  hard  wood  timber.  Entering  it  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi from  the  Gulf,  the  immense  forests  of  longleaf 
pine  * stretching  without  interception  over  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  square  miles,  strike  first  the  attention.  They 
are  indeed  the  most  prominent  and  at  the  present  day 
most  important  feature  of  the  Southern  timber  growth. 
The  longleaf  pine  occupies,  to  the  almost  entire  exclu- 
sion of  any  other  tree  growth,  the  southeastern  sections 
of  North  and  South  Carolina,  lower  Georgia,  Florida, 
and  the  southern  parts  of  Alabama  and  Mississippi.  A 
narrow  strip  over  six  miles  in  width,  covered  with  an 
unbroken  longleaf  pine  forest,  crosses  Alabama  from 
east  to  near  its  western  border,  and  two  isolated  tracts 
of  thousands  of  acres  in  extent  are  found  in  the  northern 
part  of  this  State.  West  of  the  Mississippi  river  the 

* Pinus  aus  tralis. 


28 


Proceedings  of  the 


hills  of  the  drift  deposits,  bordering  on  both  sides  of  the 
Red  river  valley  in  Louisiana  and  continuing  westward 
through  eastern  Texas  to  the  Trinity  river,  are  clothed 
with  one  continuous  forest  of  the  same  tree,  over  all 
this  territory  confined  to  the  poorest  soils.  In  the  qual- 
ities of  its  timber,  particularly  for  heavier  constructions, 
the  longleaf  pine  is  not  surpassed  on  account  of  its 
strength,  great  resistance  under  a continued  heavy 
strain,  and  its  durability,  furnishing  lengths  without  a 
flaw  of  dimensions  to  meet  the  highest  requirements  of 
the  builder,  the  engineer  and  naval  architect.  It  is  also 
of  great  importance  on  account  of  its  resinous  products, 
from  which  chiefly  all  the  naval  stores  produced  in  the 
United  States  are  obtained. 

The  forests  of  the  longleaf  pine  form  several  geo- 
graphically distinct  regions : 

/.  The  longleaf  pine  region  of  the  Atlantic  slope , cov- 
ering the  eastern  sections  of  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina,  middle  and  eastern  Florida  and  lower  Geor- 
gia, with  an  estimated  supply  of  merchantable  timber 
standing  in  1880,  in  each  of  the  first  of  the  two  States 
named  and  in  the  parts  of  Florida  mentioned,  of  little 
over  five  billions  of  feet  b.  m.,  amounting  in  Georgia 
to  seventeen  billions  f.  b.  m.* 

2.  The  great  maritime  pine  belt  of  the  eastern  GulJ 
States.  This  region,  a continuation  of  the  Atlantic  for- 
est,  extends  from  the  Chattahoochee  river  to  the  low- 
lands of  the  Mississippi  river,  nearly  forty  thousand 
square  miles..  The  supply  of  merchantable  timber  stand- 
ing in  May,  1880,  has  been  estimated  to  be  not  less  than 
forty  billions  f.  b.  m. ; of  this  amount  little  over  eighteen 
billions  are  found  in  Mississippi,  sixteen  billions  in  Ala- 

*The  figures  relating  to  these  estimates  and  the  amounts  of  lumber  produced 
are  from  the  statements  of  the  census  of  1880,  if  not  otherwise  mentioned. 


29 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

bama,  five  billions  in  eastern  Louisiana,  and  one  and  a 
half  billions  in  western  Florida.  The  total  production  of 
lumber  and  hewn  timber  during  the  same  year  was 
found  to  be  equal  to  four  hundred  millions  f.  b.  m.,  find- 
ing their  outlet  in  Pensacola,  Fla.,  Mobile,  Ala.,  Pasca- 
goula and  Bay  St.  Louis,  Miss.,  and  by  the  railroad 
lines  leading  to  Northern  markets. 

For  the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  its  shipment  this 
great  lumber  region  possesses  facilities  scarcely  found 
united  elsewhere.  Crossed  by  navigable  rivers  with 
numerous  tributaries  intersecting  it  in  all  directions,  the 
movement  of  the  timber  to  the  mills  near  the  coast  is 
made  possible  nearly  throughout  the  year,  and  during 
the  higher  stages  of  water,  from  its  remoter  parts,  and 
under  the  mild  climate  of  a lower  latitude  the  work  at 
the  mills  can  be  kept  going  on  for  every  working  day 
of  the  year.  The  numerous  fine  bays  of  the  Gulf  coast 
forming  the  safest  of  harbors,  and  the  numerous  estuaries 
of  the  rivers  permitting  the  easy  access  of  the  shipping 
to  the  mills  in  the  tide-water  districts,  offer  the  readiest 
and  cheapest  means  for  the  shipment  of  their  products 
and  of  square-hewn  timber  to  all  parts  of  the  globe, 
and  traversed  by  great  railroad  lines  to  distant  inland 
markets.  The  production  of  naval  stores  in  this  belt 
is  confined  to  the  forests  bordering  on  the  rivers  and 
railroads  terminating  at  the  port  of  Mobile.  The  pro- 
duction, but  little  fluctuating  during  the  last  eight  years, 
amounts  to  twenty  thousand  barrels  spirits  turpen- 
tine, and  one  hundred  thousand  barrels  of  resin  annu- 
ally.f 

The  largest  part  of  these  pine-clad  hills  will  remain 
forever  unfit  for  cultivation.  Scantily  shaded,  the  light, 
sandy  soil  produces  numerous  grasses  and  leguminous 


t Reports  of  Board  of  Trade,  Mobile,  1872-1880. 


30 


Proceedings  of  the 

plants,  they  affording,  during  the  earlier  part  of  the 
summer  season,  good  pasturage  for  cattle  and  sheep. 
Where,  however,  the  surface  of  the  ground  is  less 
broken,  spreading  out  in  gently  swelling  plains,  with  a 
good  drainage  and  underlay  by  a clay  foundation,  ren- 
dering the  soil  more  retentive,  these  lands  are  suscepti- 
ble of  great  improvement,  and  can  be  made  to  produce 
paying  crops  of  corn,  rice,  sweet  potatoes,  sugar  cane, 
and  for  the  cultivation  of  various  forage  crops  through- 
out the  whole  year.  The  best  lands  of  this  class,  with 
the  needed  facilities  of  transportation,  as  are  found  in 
Mobile  county,  are  highly  adapted  for  the  raising  of 
early  vegetables  and  fruits  for  Northern  markets.  From 
a small  beginning  this  business  has  reached,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Mobile,  during  the  past  ten  years,  the  pro- 
portions of  an  important  remunerative  industry,  capable 
of  a great  increase.  With  the  success  achieved  in  the 
production  of  a marketable  fine  table  wine  from  the 
Scuppernong  vine,  growing  in  these  pine  lands  with  a 
wonderful  luxuriance,  yielding  year  after  year  unfailing 
crops  of  its  luscious  fruit,  they  cannot  fail  to  be  soon 
counted  amongst  the  wine-producing  districts  of  the 
country. 

Beyond  the  silicious  corrus  soils  of  the  drift  deposits 
begins  the  upper  division  of  this  pine  region,  with  a 
tree  growth  of  a different  character.  There  the  long- 
leaf  pine  is  confined  to  the  more  elevated  ridges  with  an 
arid,  sandy  or  rocky  soil ; the  more  gently  rolling  up- 
lands are  covered  with  the  short  leaf  pine  * and  some 
loblolly  pine,f  more  or  less  associated  with  upland  oaks,J 

* Pinus  mitis. 

t Pinus  toeda. 

t Post  oak  (queraus  stellate).  Spanish  oak  (quercus  falcata).  Black  oak 
(quercus  tinctoria).  Black  jack  (quercus  nigra). 


Sonthei'n  Immigration  Associatioii.  3 1 

upland  hickories  * and  other  deciduous  leafed  trees  of 
less  importance. 

The  bottom  lands  of  the  broad  and  fertile  valleys  are 
covered  with  a valuable  and  varied  timber  growth,  con- 
sisting largely  of  the  best  of  white  oak  timber,  furnished 
principally  by  the  swamp  chesnut  or  basket  oak  and  sev- 
eral other  species  of  Spanish  oakf  excellent  for  cooper- 
age, huge  swreet  or  red  gums,J  white  elm,  ash,  magno- 
lias, and  the  valuable  hickories  found  in  the  lowlands, § 
with  a sprinkling  of  large  pines. ||  This  region  of  mixed 
growth  covers  in  Alabama  seven  thousand  and  in  Mis- 

o 

sissippi  about  three  thousand  square  miles,  of  which 
twenty-five  per  cent  can  be  considered  to  be  occupied 
by  hardwood  trees,  fifty-nine  per  cent  by  pines,  and 
sixteen  per  cent  as  improved  lands.  The  advantages 
found  by  the  immigrant  in  this  region  can  be  considered 
as  great,  indeed,  in  view  of  its  various  timber  resources 
and  the  greater  fertility  of  its  more  generous  soil.  Over 
fifteen  millions  of  feet  of  longleaf  pine  timber  were 
shipped  during  the  year  1880  from  this  upper  division 
of  the  maratime  pine  belt. 

3.  The  central  pine  belt  of  Alabama  supports  an  ex- 
cellent timber  growth  exclusively  of  the  longleaf  pine, 
averaging  not  less  than  five  thousand  f.  b.  m.  to  the 
acre,  with  an  estimated  supply  standing  in  1880  of  one 
and  three-fourth  billions  f.  b.  m.,  and  with  a production 
of  sixty-seven  millions  feet  lumber  during  the  same  year 
shipped  to  Northern  markets. 

* Pignut  hickory,  carya  norcine,  mockernut,  carya  tomentosa. 

t Quercus  michaurei,  Southern  willow  oak  (quercus  phellos),  swamp  white 
oak  or  overtop  oak  (quercus  lyrata). 

i Quercus  falcata. 

% Liquidambur  styraeifbea. 

(j  Shellbark  hickory  (carya  alba),  Mockeruei  hickory.  Shortleaf  pine,  loblolly 
pine,  spruce  pine  (pinus  glabus.) 


32  Proceedings  of  the 

4.  The  forests  of  longleaf  pine  west  of  the  Mississip- 
pi river.  In  these  is  found  the  heaviest  stand  of  timber. 
According  to  those  best  informed  upon  the  subject,  the 
yield  of  one  acre  exceeds  six  thousand  feet  of  merchanta- 
ble timber.  Hence  if  covering  a much  smaller  area  than 
that  covered  by  the  forests  of  the  eastern  Gulf  States, 
the  timber  supply  harbored  by  them  is  nearly  the  same. 
In  Louisiana  they  cover  six  thousand  square  miles, 
almost  in  a primeval  condition. 

The  few  saw  mills  near  Alexandria  supply  only  the 
limited  demands  of  the  lower  Red  River  Valley.  It  is 
only  in  the  western  districts,  on  the  waters  of  the  Cal- 
casien  and  Sabine  rivers  that  these  forests  have  been 
somewhat  encroached  upon  to  furnish  the  timber  for  the 
mills  at  Lake  Charles  and  at  Orange. 

The  supplies  of  long-leaf  pine  timber  standing  in 
1880  in  these  western  long-leaf  pine  regions  has  been 
estimated  at  forty  and  one-half  billions,  being  nearly 
equally  divided  between  Western  Louisiana  and  East- 
ern Texas.  The  area  covered  by  the  long-leaf  pine  in 
the  latter  State  is  said  to  extend  over  four  thousand  five 
hundred  square  miles. 

Of  not  less  importance,  particularly  in  regard  to  do- 
mestic demands,  can  be  considered  the  timber  resources 
found  in  the  short-leaf  pine.  If  perhaps  somewhat  de- 
ficient in  strength  and  tenacity  compared  with  that  of 
the  long-leaf  species,  the  timber  of  this  tree  is  equally 
durable,  of  a finer  grain,  and  easier  worked,  preferred 
for  lighter  carpenter  work  and  that  of  the  joiner.  In 
the  Eastern  Gulf  States  it  is  found  in  greater  or  lesser 
quantity  associated  with  the  deciduous-leafed  tree- 
growth  on  the  uplands  with  a light,  loamy  soil,  beyond 
the  drift-belt  of  the  Coast.  The  supply  of  mercantile 
short-leaf  pine  timber,  according  to  the  latest  informa- 


/ 


Souther'll  Immigration  Association.  33 

tion,  can  safely  be  assumed  to  be  not  less  than  ten  bil- 
lions f.  b.  m.  in  Alabama  and  Mississippi  combined. 
The  production  of  timber  during  the  year  1880  amount- 
ed in  these  States  to  nearly  twelve  millions. 

On  the  gravelly  hill  lands  of  the  northern  part  of 
Louisiana  and  in  Eastern  Texas,  north  of  the  long-leaf 
pine  region,  the  short-leaf  pine  is  the  most  prevailing 
forest  tree.  The  timber  supply  standing  in  Louisana 
has  been  estimated  at  twenty-one  billions  f.  b.  m.,  and 
in  Texas  at  twenty -six  billions  f.  b.  m.,  with  an  annual 
production  of  twenty-two  millions  f.  b.  m.,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-six  millions  f.  b.  m.,  respectively.  With 
the  exclusion  of  the  lowlands,  forests  of  a similar  nature 
cover  nearly  all  that  part  of  Arkansas  south  of  the 
Arkansas  river.  The  supply  of  short-leaf  pine  timber 
standing  in  that  State  in  1880  has  been  estimated  to 
reach  fully  forty-one  billions  f.  b.  m.,  with  a production 
of  two  hundred  millions  1.  b.  m.  of  lumber  during-  the 
same  year. 

Of  other  valuable  timber  trees  of  the  coniferous  or- 
der, however,  found  less  abundantly,  the  red*  and 
white  f cedar  and  the  cypress  J remain  to  be  mentioned. 
The  first  of  these  is  found  in  considerable  groves  or 
breaks  on  the  rocky  limestone  hills  and  rugged  declivi- 
ties bordering  the  valleys  in  Southern  Tennessee  and 
North  Alabama,  and  in  the  swamps  of  Western  Florida. 
On  account  of  the  beautiful  color  and  fine  grain  of  its 
sweet-scented  and  light,  soft  wood,  it  is  much  employed 
for  the  finest  kinds  of  small  cooperage  or  hollowware, 
for  chests,  etc.,  and  of  its  gr^t  resistance  to  the  com- 
bined influences  of  air  and  of  dampness  is  invaluable 

* Red  cedar.  Iceniperus  Virginiana. 

t White  cedar,  juniper.  Cupressus  thyoides. 

4:  Cypress.  Bald  cypress.  Taxodium  distichum. 

3 


34 


Proceedings  of  the 

for  posts.  The  wood  of  the  white  cedar  possesses  sim- 
ilar qualities  and  is  employed  for  the  same  purposes; 
on  account  of  its  tenacity  and  durability  it  enters  largely 
in  the  construction  of  the  hulls  of  steamboats  and  other 
such  craft.  In  Alabama  this  tree  is  found  quite  fre- 
quently in  the  shallow,  sandy  swamps  of  the  cane  region 
of  the  coast. 

The  cypress  is  the  giant  of  the  Southern  forest,  con- 
fined to  the  deep,  submerged,  forest-covered  swamps  of 
the  alluvial  lands.  The  demand  for  cypress  lumber  is 
continually  on  the  increase,  and  its  value  proportionately 
rising,  consequently  the  supplies  found  in  localities  easy 
of  access  are  being  rapidly  exhausted.  However,  vast 
quantities,  lasting  for  years  to  come,  are  yet  found  in 
Western  Florida  in  the  swamps  bordering  the  Alabama 
and  Tombigbee  rivers  in  Alabama,  and  principally  in 
the  shallow  lakes  and  swamps  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
and  the  alluvial  lands  of  its  tributaries  in  Louisiana, 
Arkansas,  and  the  Mississippi  and  Yazoo  delta  in  the 
State  of  Mississippi.  To  meet  the  demands  for  these 
valuable  kinds  of  timbers  the  Southern  States  have  to 
be  solely  resorted  to.  This  statement  applies  with 
equal  force  to  those  of  hardwood  timber.  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  the  Southern  districts  of  Tennessee,  the 
Southwestern  districts  of  North  Carolina,  the  State  of 
Arkansas,  and  the  Gulf  States,  are  at  present  practically 
to  be  considered  as  the  remaining  depositories  of  the 
timber  wealth  of  the  immense  forest  region  of  hard  wood 
trees  which  covered  once  the  Atlantic  slope  and  all  the 
territory  of  the  Middle  Spates  to  the  Great  Lakes.  But 
few  remnants  not  entirely  despoiled  of  their  valuable 
timber  growth  are  at  present  found  north  of  the  Ohio 
river,  and  it  is  from  the  States  south  of  that  line  that 
the  immense  supplies  must  be  drawn  to  meet  the  ever- 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 35 

increasing  necessities  of  the  country.  It  is  impossible 
to  give,  on  an  occasion  like  the  present,  more  than  a 
mere  outline  of  a subject  so  extensive  as  a detailed  ac- 
count of  the  resources  of  the  hard  wood  forests  of  this 
section,  and  of  their  distribution  over  such  a vast  territory. 

In  speaking  of  it,  the  assertion  can  be  made  at  the 
outset,  that  the  generally  prevailing  objections  against 
the  inferiority  of  all  kinds  of  hard  wood  timber  of 
southern  growth  are  disappearing  in  the  light  of  expe- 
rience accumulating  with  its  increased  use.  Testimony 
in  proof  of  it  is  furnished  constantly  by  the  workshops 
of  the  railroad  lines  and  other  manufacturing  establish- 
ments depending  on  their  use,  which  have  been  opened 
since  the  entrance  of  the  Southern  States  upon  their 
new  industrial  era.  Further,  that  all  the  various  kinds 
of  hard  wood  timber  found  in  the  North  are,  with  a few 
unimportant  exceptions,  abundantly  represented  in  the 
South,  with  the  addition  of  some  peculiarly  Southern 
kinds  of  great  value.  The  common  white  oak*  is  out- 
side of  the  coast  region  distributed  over  all  the  Southern 
States,  besides  several  other  oaks  of  the  same  group 
already  named,  which  furnish  timber  of  excellent  quality. 
The  most  abundant  amongst  them  is  the  basket  oak,  or 
swamp  chestnut  oak,  which  stands  foremost  as  the  most 
important  of  the  Southern  hard  wood  trees,  its  timber 
possessing  all  the  qualities  for  which  the  common  white 
oak  is  highly  esteemed.  Considering  these  resources 
with  the  supplies  of  the  best  hickory  timber,  of  the  yel- 
low poplar,  white  ash,  red  maple,  red  gum,  black 
walnut,  beech,  red  and  black  oak  timber,  and  those  of 
less  value,  like  the  magnolia,  tupelo  gum,  black  gum 
cottonwood,  etc.,  their  bearing  upon  the  development 
of  the  various  mechanical  industrial  enterprises  based 

* Quercusalba. 


36 


Proceedings  of  the 

upon  them,  as  the  manufacture  of  wagons  and  lighter 
vehicles,  of  agricultural  machinery,  and  implements  of 
all  kinds,  of  furniture,  cooperage,  and  the  establishment 
of  shipyards,  will  be  at  once  apparent,  and  their  in- 
fluence upon  the  increase  of  commerce  and  prosperity 
of  this  section  of  our  country  cannot  be  overestimated. 
In  Alabama,  as  already  remarked,  the  hard  wood  re- 
sources of  importance  begin  in  the  upper  division  of  the 
maritime  pine-belt,  the  region  of  mixed  growth.  The 
greatest  supplies,  however,  are  found  in  the  innumerable 
valleys  of  a higher  water  level,  which  intersect  the  high- 
lands of  the  northern  part  of  this  State.  Remote  from 
communication  in  these  sparsely  inhabited  districts,  they 
have  scarcely  been  touched  upon  ; and  in  the  basin  of 
the  Tennessee  river,  where  white  oaks,  black,  red,  and 
Spanish  oaks,  beech,  birch,  yellow  poplar,  white  ash, 
and  shellbark  hickories  are  found  in  great  quantities, 
with  some  fine  black  walnut. 

The  timber  growth  of  the  highlands  of  North  Ala- 
bama, extending  over  more  than  six  thousand  square 
miles,  consists  mostly  of  hard  wood  trees,  including  the 
various  upland  oaks,*  amongst  them  the  mountain  oak, 
or  tanbark  oak,f  of  great  value  as  the  source  of  the  best 
tanning  material  of  the  country,  of  upland  hickories, J 
black  gums,§  with  some  short-leaf  and  loblolly  pine.  In 
close  proximity  to  the  great  mineral  deposits,  the  im- 
portance of  these  upland  forests  in  regard  to  the  devel- 
opment of  the  mining  interests  of  this  section  are  not  to 
be  too  highly  appreciated. 

In  the  State  of  Mississippi  the  four  hundred  thou- 

* Spanish  oak  (quercus  falcata),  scarlet  oak  (quercus  corcinea),  black  oak 
(quercus  tinctoria),  post  oak  (quercus  stellaha). 
t Quercus  prinus. 

Mockernut  hickory  (larya  tomentosa),  pignut  hickory  (carya  portina). 
iJNypa  multiflora. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  37 

sand  acres  of  alluvial  lands  in  the  Mississippi  and 
Yazoo  delta,  of  which  fully  three  hundred  thousand  acres 
are  covered  with  a forest  in  primeval  condition  of  a lux- 
uriance and  grandeur  not  surpassed  anywhere  outside 
of  the  tropics,  can  be  looked  upon  as  the  most  extensive 
body  of  hardwood  timber  in  the  Mississippi  valley. 
Woods  of  the  same  character  line  the  banks  of  all  of  the 
larger  northeastern  affluents  of  the  Yazoo  river,  so 
that  the  basin  of  this  river  can  be  regarded  as  harbor- 
ing the  geatest  wealth  of  hard  wood  timber  existing  in 
the  South.  In  Arkansas  similar  and  more  varied  re- 
sources of  great  magnitude  are  found  in  the  extensive 
lowlands  bordering  on  the  Mississippi  river  and  through- 
out the  State  in  the  upper  valleys.  In  northwestern 
Louisiana  and  eastern  Texas  is  found  the  true  white 
oak  in  abundance.  Southwestern  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee are  famous  for  their  yellow  poplar,  oak  and  hick- 
ory timber,  furnishing  to  a great  measure  the  supplies 
needed  by  the  manufactories  in  the  Ohio  valley. 

In  view  of  the  rapid  depletion  of  the  resources  of  pine 
forests  of  the  lake  region  of  the  northwest,  which  ac- 
cording to  the  best  authorities  will  be  accomplished 
within  the  next  decade,  and  also  of  the  exhaustion  of 
the  hard  wood  supplies  of  the  forests  of  the  Atlantic 
slope  and  the  Ohio  valley,  and  in  contemplation  of  the 
increased  demands  of  the  near  future,  which  are  bound 
to  exceed  those  of  the  past  in  immense  proportions,  to 
meet  the  necessities  of  the  rapidly  growing  population 
leading  to  the  settlement  of  the  treeless  regions  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from 
the  forest  wealth  of  the  Southern  States  by  the  settler 
and  by  the  investment  of  capital  and  labor  cannot  be 
over  estimated. 


38 


Proceedings  of  the 


NIGHT  SESSION— 8 P.  M. 


President  McWhirter,  on  taking  the  chair,  called  upon 
Dr.  J.  Berrien  Lindsley,  who  said: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Conve?ition — This  is  the  educational 
center  of  the  southwest,  and  I not  only  take  pleasure  in 
welcoming  you  here,  but  also  to  say  that  I have  been 
deeply  interested  in  what  has  been  said  here  to-day  con- 
cerning the  development  of  the  South.  It  is  a meeting 
which  I feel  confident  will  advance  the  interests  of  every 
Southern  State. 

Dr.  Lindsley  then  introduced  Dr.  B.  G.  Northrup,  of 
Connecticut. 

Dr.  Northrup  congratulated  the  Association  upon  en- 
tering on  a work  which  promised  so  much  in  the  way  of 
advancing  their  best  interests.  Dr.  Northrup  spoke  of 
his  study  of  the  prevention  of  spring  freshets  and  sum- 
mer droughts,  by  reforesting  the  hills.  In  Europe  this 
principle  had  long  been  recognized  as  an  axiom.  This 
plan  was  introduced  in  this  country  by  setting  one  day 
in  last  April  as  arbor  day.  On  that  day  in  New  En- 
gland there  were  more  trees  planted  than  on  any  other 
one  day  in  the  history  of  the  country.  The  economic 
as  well  as  aesthetic  value  of  this  reforesting  the  country 
was  so  apparent  that  other  arbor  days  were  appointed. 
In  Nebraska  12,000,000  trees  were  planted  on  one  arbor 
day.  School  house  grounds  were  beautified  and  hill- 
sides rendered  again  the  receivers  of  water  instead  of 
mere  slopes  for  it  to  rush  down  in  torrents.  Kansas 


Southemi  Immigration  Association . 39 

followed  the  example  of  Nebraska.  Michigan  had  its 
arbor  days  each  year  with  most  beneficial  results.  Ohio 
lately  took  up  the  same  idea.  Children  even  partici- 
pated in  the  work.  The  children  in  the  morning  were 
taught  lessons  on  trees. 

The  speaker  advised  the  encouragement  of  tree 
planting  in  the  South.  People  should  be  more  fully 
brought  to  appreciate  the  value  of  trees.  How  could 
the  railroad  do  a better  work  in  connection  with  the 
work  of  this  convention  than  in  agreeing  to  carry  trees 
without  cost,  provided  they  were  planted  anywhere  in 
twenty  miles  of  their  lines?  It  would  pay  them  in  the 
end  in  increasing  the  value  of  lands,  encouraging  immi- 
gration and  furnishing  the  best  of  timbers  for  cross-ties. 
This  convention  could  not  do  a better  thing  than  to  pro- 
mulgate an  arbor  day  to  increase  and  encourage  eco- 
nomic tree  planting. 

ADDRESS  OF  HON.  L.  E.  BROOKS. 

Alabama  possesses  all  the  elements  requisite  for  the 
development  of  a great  State.  Bountifully  endowed  by 
nature,  she  presents  to  the  capitalist,  the  agriculturist 
and  the  laborer  advantages  rarely  equalled  and  nowhere 
excelled.  Her  rapid  progress  during  the  last  decade — 
though  a mere  beginning — already  discloses  a future  of 
vast  possibilities  and  gives  the  assurance  of  success  to 
all  who  have  the  intelligence  to  comprehend  and  the 
enterprise  to  grasp  the  opportunities  which  she  so  freely 
offers.  In  respect  to  climate,  to  fertility  and  variety  of 
soil,  to  abundant  and  accessible  mineral  wealth,  she 
stands  pre-eminent  among  the  States  of  the  Union. 
From  the  Gulf  coast  to  her  northern  boundary,  beyond 
the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Tennessee,  her  territory 


40 


Proceedings  of  the 

stretches  through  more  than  five  degrees  of  latitude. 
The  extreme  length  of  the  State,  running  north  and 
south,  is  336  miles,  and  the  width  from  48  to  200  miles* 
embracing  an  area  of  50,722  square  miles.  Within  the 
limits  of  this  favored  domain  are  to  be  found  the  products 
of  both  the  temperate  and  the  sub-tropical  zones.  In 
the  northern  portion  we  have  a mountainous  country 
which  marks  the  western  terminus  of  the  Alleghany 
ridge;  in  the  southern  portion  is  a vast  region  (timbered 
with  the  valuable  long-leaf  yellow  pine)  of  a generally 
level  surface,  relieved  here  and  there  by  gentle  undula- 
tions to  within  a short  distance  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
Occupying  a central  position  between  these  two  ex- 
tremes is  the  great  cotton  belt,  including  the  canebrake 
region  of  Dallas,  Marenzo  and  Perry  counties. 

The  soil  of  this  cotton  belt  is  a heavy,  black  prairie  of 
wonderful  fertility,  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  growth  of 
Indian  corn,  and  for  the  production  of  the  fleecy  staple 
equal  to  that  of  any  other  section  in  the  cotton  States. 
Along  the  valleys  of  the  Tennessee  and  the  Coosa,  in 
the  northern  and  northeastern  portions  of  the  State,  the 
lands  are  exceedingly  fertile  and  afford  fine  pasturage 
while  wheat,  corn  and  oats  are  the  staple  products. 
Cotton,  however,  is  successfully  cultivated  in  these  val- 
leys, just  as  the  cereals  and  many  of  the  grasses  find  a 
congenial  soil  in  not  a few  sections  of  the  cotton  belt. 
I11  the  great  pine  region,  while  the  soil  is  generally  light, 
thin  and  sandy,  very  fertile  lands  are  to  be  found  in 
many  portions  of  it.  Near  the  coast,  especially  in  Mo- 
bile and  the  adjoining  counties,  the  land  is  particularly 
adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  vegetables  and  the  root 
crops.  The  soil  generally  has  a clay  foundation,  holds 
fertilizers  well  and  is  brought  to  a very  high  state  of 
cultivation  with  comparatively  little  expeniture.  It  is 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  41 

only  within  the  past  few  years  that  these  lands  have  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  farmers,  and  what  was  once  con- 
sidered a barren,  worthless  soil,  now  teems  with  crops 
whose  harvests  come  in  succession  throughout  the 
greater  portion  of  the  year,  the  luckless  failure  of  the 
one  being  happily  followed  by  the  complete  success  of 
another,  finding  at  all  times  a remunerative  and  con- 
stantly  growing  market.  These  lands,  any  quantity  of 
which  could  have  been  bought  ten  years  ago  for  fifty 
cents  an  acre,  now  sell  at  from  $3  to  $30  per  acre  accord- 
ing to  location,  etc.  They  supply  Chicago,  St.  Louis, 
Cincinnati,  Louisville,  Nashville  and  other  cities  with 
early  fruits  and  vegetables,  such  as  peaches,  pears, 
strawberries,  melons,  oranges,  cabbages,  sweet  and 
Irisji  potatoes,  tomatoes,  peas,  beans,  etc. 

Thus  has  a new  industry  invested  with  considerable 
value  a portion  of  the  State,  which  in  respect  of  soil 
was  contemptuously  disregarded  not  many  years  since, 
and  has  contributed  no  little  to  the  increased  traffic  of 
the  railroads  running  out  of  the  Gulf  City.  In  Mobile 
county  molasses  is  a staple  product,  and  year  by  year 
greater  attention  is  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  sugar  cane. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  certain  and  productive  crops,  the 
land  yielding,  after  having  been  fertilized  with  cotton 
seed  meal,  a net  result  of  from  $75  to  $100  per  acre,  and 
is  said  to  be  exempt  from  the  ravages  of  insects.  In 
this  county  also  the  shipment  of  fish  and  oysters  has  be- 
come a business  of  considerable  importance.  There  is 
ample  room,  however,  for  capital  and  enterprise  in  this 
industry.  Mobile  Bay — a beautiful  sheet  of  water — and 
the  Gulf  just  outside  abound  in  fish  of  the  finest  varie- 
ties, such  as  pompano,  red,  Spanish  mackerel,  sheeps- 
head,  red  snapper,  and  in  oysters,  which  for  size  and 
flavor  are  unsurpassed.  In  many  portions  of  this  pine 


42 


Proceedings  of  the 

region  sheep  husbandry  can  be  carried  on  more  profit- 
ably than  in  some  other  sections  of  the  Union  where 
greater  attention  is  paid  to  it,  and  where  on  account  of 
the  long,  severe  winters  a heavy  outlay  for  food  and 
shelter  is  imperatively  demanded.  But  the  great  and 
growing  industry  of  this  vast  pine  belt  is  that  of  timber. 
Mill  men  from  the  Northwest  have  begun  to  appreciate 
Alabama’s  immense  timber  resources  and  are  purchas- 
ing these  lands  and  erecting  mills  on  them.  The  de- 
velopment of  this  industry  has  made  a great  lumber 
market  of  Mobile,  whose  timber  supplies  are  drawn 
from  the  pine  lands  of  East  Mississippi  as  well  as  those 
of  Alabama.  With  her  ample  railroad  transportation 
she  is  enabled  to  supply  the  rapidly  increasing  demand 
of  the  West,  and  her  fine  shipping  facilities  have  within 
the  past  few  years  added  immensely  to  her  foreign  and 
coastwise  trade.  This  vast  timber  region,  destined  as 
it  is  to  become  a source  of  great  wealth,  is  certain  to 
reward  with  a munificent  hand  the  energy  and  enter- 
prise which  shall  enable  it  to  contribute  its  products  to 
the  commerce  of  the  world.  No  more  inviting  field  can 
be  found  for  the  mill  men  of  the  West  who  are  com- 
pelled to  seek  a more  genial  climate,  or  to  leave  de- 
nuded lands  in  search  of  a location  where  their  skill  and 
capital  can  be  employed  to  better  advantage.  But  if 
Alabama  is  fortunate  in  the  possession  of  valuable  pine 
forests,  what  shall  be  said  of  her  incomparable  mineral 
resources?  In  these  she  is  royally  endowed.  In  the 
northern  and  central  portions  of  the  State  is  to  be  found 
a vast  expanse  of  territory,  marvellously  rich  in  coal, 
iron,  copper,  limestone,  soapstone,  marble,  mica,  graph- 
ite, asbestos,  fire-brick  clay,  porcelain  clay,  etc.  The 
growth  of  the  iron  industry  of  the  State  seems  to  be 
almost  the  work  of  magic.  Alabama  now  ranks  sixth 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  43 

among  our  iron-producing  States ; but  at  her  present 
rate  of  progress  she  will  soon  shoot  up  near  the  head. 
In  1880  her  iron  production  was  191,000  tons;  this  year 
it  will  probably  reach*75o,ooo  tons.  In  consequence  of 
the  favorable  conditions  which  surround  the  manufacture 
of  iron  in  the  State  its  cost  is  from  six  to  eight  dollars 
per  ton  less  than  in  Pennsylvania.  The  richness  of  the 
ore,  its  accessibility,  its  abundance — the  deposits  aver- 
aging a far  greater  thickness  than  those  of  Pennsyl- 
vania or  Tennessee  and  measuring  in  some  places  as 
much  as  1 50  feet ; its  convenience  to  coal  and  limestone — 
these  are  advantages  possessed  by  no  other  region 
upon  the  habitable  globe.  There  is  a ridge  running  a 
distance  of  more  than  one  hundred  miles  in  a north- 
easterly and  southwesterly  direction  across  the  upper 
half  of  the  State  in  which  iron,  coal  and  limestone,  sep- 
arated from  each  other  by  only  a few  miles,  run  in  par- 
allel lines  throughout  its  entire  length.  At  the  point  of 
its  intersection  with  the  Louisville  & Nashville  railroad 
the  stratum  of  iron  measures  thirty  feet.  This  is  the 
famous  Red  Mountain  deposit,  “an  idea  of  whose  vast 
extent  maybe  obtained,”  says  Mr.  Berney,  “from  the 
fact  that  a fair  estimate  shows  that  there  are  fifteen  mil- 
lio?is  tons  of  ore  to  each  mile  along  the  mountain  lying 
above  the  drainage  land.” 

The  coal  fields  of  Alabama  have  an  area  of  little  less 
than  half  of  those  of  Great  Britain.  They  measure 
5,350  square  miles,  which  is  more  than  one-tenth  of  the 
total  area  of  the  State.  They  are  known  respectively 
as  the  Coosa,  the  W arrior  and  the  Cahaba  fields.  The 
former  has  an  area  of  150,  the  latter  of  200,  and  the  War- 
rior of  5,000  square  miles.  Gen.  Joseph  W.  Burke, 
Collector  of  Customs  at  Mobile,  has  recently  written  a 
pamphlet  on  “The  Coal  Fields  of  Alabama,”  in  which  the 


44 


Proceedings  of  the 

subject  in  all  its  relations  is  most  intelligently  and  com- 
prehensively treated.  1 should  be  strongly  tempted  to 
embody  his  entire  article  in  this  paper  were  it  not  for 
lack  of  space,  which  compels  m#e  to  be  content  with 
quoting  so  much  of  it  as  circumstances  justify. 

“These  divisions,”  says  Gen.  Burke,  “take  their 
names  from  the  respective  rivers — Warrior,  Cahaba  and 
Coosa — which  flow  through  them.  From  those  streams 
branch  out  in  all  directions  innumerable  creeks,  subdi- 
viding the  coal  measures,  and  affording,  especially  in 
the  case  of  the  Warrior,  many  miles  of  deep  water  nine 
months  in  the  year,  thus  enabling  the  coal  to  be  mined 
far  up  in  the  interior  and  boated  to  the  main  stream. 
Human  skill  could  not  have  devised  a more  perfect  sys- 
tem of  internal  canals  or  auxiliary  water  courses  than 
nature  has  provided  on  the  Warrior.  Branching  off  in 
all  directions  those  creeks  cut  their  way  through  the 
measures  and  in  many  cases  Bow  over  solid  beds  of  coal. 
During  the  summer  months  this  river  is  not  navigable 
above  Tuscaloosa.  In  fact  it  is  almost  at  the  very  verge 
of  the  coal  measures  in  Tuscaloosa  that  the  obstructions 
to  navigation  commence,  caused  by  the  structure  of  the 
coal  measures  themselves. 

^ * * * * 

“The  great  apparent  fact  connected  with  these  Ala- 
bama coal  fields  is  that,  taking  into  consideration  their 
geographical  position,  their  physical  characteristics,  the 
superior  quality  of  their  product,  and  the  cheapness  with 
which  they  may  be  mined  and  transported,  they  consti- 
tute the  only  source  of  supply  in  the  entire  world  which 
can  successfully  compete  with  British  coal  in  the  Gulf, 
West  Indies,  South  America,  and  on  the  completion  of 
the  Panama  canal,  on  the  entire  Pacific  coast.  When 
the  facts  on  which  this  assertion  is  founded  are  stated, 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  45 

the  reality  is  startling.  The  coal  area  of  Great  Britain 
is  estimated  at  11,900  square  miles,  and  that  of  the 
United  States  192,000  square  miles.  Thus  it  is  seen 
that  the  area  of  the  Warrior  coal  field  alone  is  nearly 
equal  to  half  that  of  Great  Britain. 

* * * * * * 

“ When  we  compare  the  total  output  of  the  British 
mines  with  those  of  our  own  and  then  the  ratio  of  our 
exportation  with  that  of  Great  Britain,  the  facts  are  not 
flattering  to  us,  but  when  we  are  confronted  with  the 
statement  of  the  National  Bureau  of  Statistics,  that  in 
the  year  ending  June  30,  1881,  the  importation  of  Brit- 
ish bituminous  coal  into  the  United  States — having  to 
pay  a duty  of  seventy-five  cents  per  ton — was  $2,008,- 
974,  and  the  exportation  of  American  bituminous  coal 
to  all  countries  was  only  $739, 53  2 < it  is  a subject  of  con- 
cern to  all  friends  of  American  trade.  The  wooden  sail- 
ing ship  is  fast  disappearing  from  the  seas.  In  twenty- 
five  years  the  great  bulk  of  the  ocean-carrying  trade 
will  be  done  by  large,  commodious  freight  steamships. 
The  completion  of  the  Panama  canal  and  the  possibility 
of  the  construction  of  the  Florida  ship  canal  will  make 
this  matter  of  coal  supply  a subject  for  the  consideration 
of  the  entire  people  of  the  United  States.  The  Gulf  of 
Mexico  ought  by  right  to  be  an  American  lake  but  if 
we  have  to  depend  on  foreign  countries  for  the  supply 
of  cheap  steam  coal  we  never  can  maintain  our  position 
as  a great  maratime  and  commercial  nation  in  those 
waters. 

“The  proposition  is  self-evident  on  the  palpable  facts 
now  existing  that  unless  a cheaper  source  of  supply  is 
had  in  this  country,  so  as  to  render  us  entirely  inde- 
pendent of  both  Great  Britain  and  Australia  on  the  At- 
lantic and  Pacific,  we  shall  see  England  maintaining  the 


46 


Proceedings  of  the 

control  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  as  absolutely  as  she 
now  does  that  of  Suez. 

“ The  distance  from  Mobile  to  Aspinwall  is  1,3 10  miles, 
and  from  Newcastle,  England  (a  principal  exporting 
point  for  steam  coal)  5,340  miles.  The  American  ship 
loading  at  Mobile  can  make  at  least  three  voyages  and 
deliver  three  cargoes  whilst  the  British  vessel  is  deliv- 
ering but  one  and  has  returned  to  her  home  port  to  re- 
load. The  case  stands  better  with  the  West  Indies  and 
Mexico,  which  countries  are  at  our  doors.  With  Ala- 
bama coal  delivered  at  Mobile  at  $2  per  ton,  we  would 
see  one  of  the  proudest  of  American  commercial  tri- 
umphs. Within  the  past  year  steam  coal  sold  at  New- 
port, England,  at  12s.  6d.  per  ton,  or  $3  American 
money.  Even  with  the  price  of  British  coal  as  low  as 
Alabama  we  still  would  have  the  preponderating  ad- 
vantage of  distance.  But  in  the  matter  of  cost  at  tide 
water  it  is  absolutely  certain  that  with  the  water  ways 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  open  to  navigation  coal  may  be  de- 
livered at  the  tide  at  a lower  price  than  in  Great  Britain. 

“The  great  advantage  possessed  by  the  coals  in  the 
Warrior  basin  is  the  ease  with  which  they  may  be  mined. 
Practically,  they  may  be  in  many  places  shoveled  from 
the  river  bank  into  the  coal  barges,  the  inclination  of 
the  seams  rarely  ever  exceeding  30. 

* * * * * * 

“As  to  quantity,  there  is  the  most  abundant  testimony 
to  show  that  there  are  at  least  seven  workable  seams  of 
coal  in  the  Warrior  field  superimposed  one  on  the  other. 
That  toward  the  basin  of  the  Warrior,  that  part  adjacent 
to  the  river,  the  seams  are  thicker  and  almost  horizontal. 
There  remains  but  one  subject  of  investigation,  and 
that  is  as  to  the  quality  of  the  coal.  Here  again  the 
testimony  is  abundant,  both  practical  and  scientific.” 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  47 

Referring  to  the  saving  made  by  the  United  States 
Government  at  the  Gulf  ports  since  the  introduction  of 
Alabama  coal,  Gen.  Burke  says: 

“As  late  as  1878  the  Government  paid  for  the  coal 
furnished  its  vessels  at  the  Gulf  ports  from  $8  to 
$12  per  ton.  To-day  coal  is  furnished  at  the  rate  ol 
$3.75  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds  at  Mobile,  and  the  conse- 
quent saving  to  the  Government  has  been  equal  to 
$40,000  in  three  years.  * * * It  is  confidently 

expected  that,  with  water  transportation  on  the  Warrior 
and  the  Cahaba  unimpeded  to  the  Gulf,  the  price  of 
steam  coal  can,  by  utilizing  the  abundant  sources  of 
American  economical  methods,  be  reduced  to  $2  per 
ton  at  Mobile.  Arrived  at  this  port  there  are  unrivalled 
facilities  for  foreign  exportation.  Here  is  one  of  the 
finest  harbors  in  the  world,  perfectly  land-locked,  with 
twenty-four  feet  of  water  on  the  outer  bar  at  low  tide. 
The  construction  of  the  ship  channel,  which  admits  ves- 
sels drawing  seventeen  feet  of  water  to  come  to  the  city 
wharves,  and  which  it  is  expected  will  be  continued 
until  the  depth  of  twenty-two  feet  shall  have  been  ob- 
tained, will  afford  opportunities  to  coal  steamers  of  the 
largest  size  and  enable  those  engaged  in  the  trade  to 
export  coal  to  the  Gulf  and  South  America  at  prices  that 
will  virtually  exclude  foreign  coal  from  those  markets  A 
Gen.  Burke  concludes  his  interesting  pamphlet  with 
the  reproduction  of  the  following  suggestive  article  from 
the  New  Orleans  Times- Democrat  in  relation  to  the  won- 
derful iron  and  coal  resources  of  Alabama: 

“A  justly  celebrated  Southern  writer  has  lately  called 
the  attention  of  Northern  capitalists  to  the  promising 
field  for  an  investment  of  capital  in  the  coal  and  iron 
deposits  of  Alabama. 

“It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  vast  extent  and 


48 


Proceedings  of  the 

the  actual  value  of  these  important  Southern  material 
resources  are  as  yet  but  feebly  comprehended  by  the 
general  American  public.  While  the  Pennsylvania  coal 
and  iron  deposits  are  justly  celebrated  throughout  the 
world  for  their  extent  and  productiveness,  the  Alabama 
mines  possess  a vast  advantage  over  the  former  from 
the  fact  that  the  coal  and  iron  deposits  are  juxtaposited, 
for  the  fuel  for  the  working  of  the  iron  ore  is  contiguous 
to  the  deposits  of  the  latter.  As  a consequence,  the 
production  of  pig-iron  has  already  become  a prominent 
Southern  industry,  while  the  foundries  of  the  State  of 
Alabama  can  to-day  produce  it  at  the  rate  of  $6  per  ton 
cheaper  than  it  can  be  made  in  Pennsylvania. 

“In  the  latter  State  this  industry,  thanks  to  the  pro- 
tective system  that  has  fostered  its  infancy  and  strength- 
ened its  growth,  is  on  a most  promising  footing.  The 
Alabama  iron  mills,  fostered  by  a few  more  years  of  sim- 
ilar protection,  will  undoubtedly  eclipse  their  Northern 
rivals,  while  that  Gulf  State  is  destined  to  take  a prom- 
inent place  among  the  iron  and  coal  producing  regions 
of  the  world. 

“While  the  English  iron  makers  and  coal  miners  are 
compelled  to  descend  deep  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth 
to  extract  the  precious  deposits,  both  iron  and  coal,  to 
an  almost  inexhaustible  extent,  are  found  on  the  very 
surface  of  the  ground,  in  paying  quantity  and  quality, 
in  many  localities  of  Alabama.  It  has  been  estimated 
that  Alabama  coal  can  be  profitably  mined  at  from  ten 
cents  to  a dollar  per  ton.  Coal  from  these  deposits  is 
daily  hauled  by  rail  to  Central  Texas,  while  experts 
have  asserted  that  it  can  be  placed  in  New  Orleans  and 
retailed  at  $2.50  per  ton. 

“As  iron  and  coal  exist  in  juxtaposition  in  many  lo- 
calities in  Alabama,  it  cannot  be  a matter  of  surprise  if 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  49 

the  iron  workers  of  the  State  can  make  pig-iron  at  $6  a 
ton  cheaper  than  it  can  be  produced  in  any  other  part 
of  the  Union.  If  pig-iron  can  be  made  so  cheap,  there 
is  no  reason  why  a great  economy  in  the  production  of 
iron  manufactures  of  all  kinds  cannot  also  be  obtained, 
and  the  rolling  mills  and  foundries  of  the  Gulf  State  be 
made  to  vie  with,  if  not  to  excel,  their  rivals  of  the 
North,  both  in  cheapness  of  production  and  the  quality 
of  manufacture.  If  this  premise  be  true  we  cannot  see 
why  Alabama,  with  its  extended  and  well-protected  sea 
coast  and  its  fairly  deep  water  ports,  should  not,  at  some 
time  in  the  near  future,  build  all  the  iron  ships  requisite 
for  the  freightage  of  American  commerce  to  the  markets 
of  the  world. 

“We  will  suppose,  for  instance,  that  as  the  Alabama 
production  of  the  raw  material  -pig-iron — is  $6  per  ton 
cheaper  than  it  is  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  preparation 
of  the  metal  for  ship  building  purposes  costs  no  more  in 
the  Alabama  mills  than  in  those  of  Pennsylvania,  an  iron 
ship  of  3,000  tons  can  be  built  at  Mobile  $10,800  cheaper 
than  on  the  Delaware ; that  is,  in  case  the  tariff  for 
wages  for  workmen,  etc.,  rules  the  same  in  each  locality. 
The  weight  of  iron  used  in  the  construction  of  a 3,000- 
ton  ship  is  about  1,800  tons.  This,  at  $6  per  ton  econ- 
omy in  the  production  of  pig-iron,  will  make  $10,800,  as 
above  stated. 

“Thus,  when  the  vast  coal  and  iron  resources  of  Ala- 
bama become  duly  appreciated,  and  ample  capital  seeks 
investment  in  their  development,  there  is  no  reason 
why,  with  cheaper  material  and  equality  on  other  points, 
the  Gulf  State  should  not  become  the  principal  iron 
ship-building  locality  of  the  Republic.” 

I cannot  dismiss  the  subject  of  Alabama’s  coal  re- 
sources without  quoting  from  an  admirable  letter  re- 
4 


50 


Proceedings  of  the 

cently  puplished  in  the  Baltimore  “ Manufacturers’  Rec- 
ord,” from  the  pen  of  Capt.  A.  C.  Danner,  President  of 
the  Bank  of  Mobile,  whose  long  practical  experience  in 
the  coal  trade  gives  weight  to  his  opinions  on  the  sub- 
ject. He  says : 

“I  have  stated  that  Alabama  mined  in  1872  only  10,'- 
000  tons  of  coal  all  told.  In  1879  this  had  increased  to 
290,000  tons,  owing  largely  to  the  enterprise  of  the 
Pratt  Company. 

“ In  1880  about  400,000  tons  were  mined  in  this  State, 
and  this  year  will  show  an  output  of  at  least  1,000,000 
tons,  and  notwithstanding  this  wonderful  increase  the 
demand  is  constantly  ahead  of  the  supply. 

“ The  markets  of  Mobile,  New  Orleans  and  Texas  are 
using  Alabama  coal,  and  its  use  is  steadily  increasing  at 
all  of  the  Gulf  ports,  where  heretofore  Pittsburg  and  . 
English  coal  only  has  been  used.  And  in  the  interior 
of  these  cotton  States,  in  the  small  towns  and  on  the 
plantations  where  wood  has  heretofore  been  the  sole 
fuel,  coal  is  now  carried  by  the  various  railroads  and 
sold  at  low  prices. 

“Our  railroads  in  this  section  (those  great  consumers 
of  Alabama  coal)  are  prosperous  now,  doing  much  more 
business  than  ever  before,  and  consequently  requiring 
more  and  more  coal,  and  new  railroads  are  being  built, 
which  will,  of  course,  further  increase  the  demand. 

“ Our  iron  furnaces,  those  other  great  consumers  of 
Alabama  coal,  are  running  on  full  time,  shipping  their 
pig-iron  to  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati,  Louisville  and  other 
places  far  from  home,  and  there  selling  it  at  a profit, 
(notwithstanding  the  present  depreciation  in  the  iron 
trade,  and  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  Pennsylvania  furnaces 
are  running  at  a loss,  reducing  the  pay  of  their  hands 
or  putting  out  their  fires.)  And  so  the  use  of  Alabama 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  51 

coal  is  growing  more  and  more  general,  and  the  demand 
for  it  constantly  increasing. 

“Now  I have  told  you  something  of  the  ‘past  and 
present’  of  Alabama  coal;  but  you  ask  me  of  ‘its  pros- 
pects for  the  future.’ 

“What  shall  I say  to  give  you  an  idea  of  what  the 
trade  in  Alabama  coal  will  be  without  causing  you  or 
your  readers  to  think  me  an  impracticable  enthusiast. 
I am  not  such,  but  I have  studied  the  possibilities  of  our 
coal  for  twelve  years ; I have  handled  it  from  the  mines 
to  the  consumer  in  various  ways,  and  I know  its  history 
and  its  possibilities. 

“ I know  that  in  Alabama  there  are  seven  distinct 
kinds  of  coal  at  least — all  bituminous,  but  each  kind 
presenting  a peculiar  excellence  for  some  special  service. 
Alabama  has  cannel  coal  within  her  borders ; she  has 
large  free-burning  lump  coal,  unexcelled  for  grate  pur- 
poses ; she  has  coking  and  gas  coals  in  abundance,  and 
coals  that  for  steam  purposes  are  fully  equal  to  your 
celebrated  Cumberland,  or  to  the  best  Scotch  coals. 

“ I have  shown  you  how  new  mines  are  being  opened 
and  the  output  of  those  now  in  operation  is  being  in- 
creased, and  yet  the  demand  keeps  in  advance  of  the 
supply  ; how  the  quantity  mined  has  increased  from  10,- 
000  to  1,000,000  tons  in  the  short  space  of  twelve  years. 
What  will  its  increase  be  in  the  next  twelve  years  ? 

“ I am  safe  in  saying  that  it  will  at  least  double  the 
present  quantity  without  exporting  any  by  water  from 
the  Gulf  ports,  for  the  business  of  the  railroads  will  con- 
tinue to  increase  and  they  will  require  more  coal,  and 
new  roads  will  be  built,  making  a new  demand  for  coal. 
* * * * * * 

“ I have  said  that  our  output  of  coal  will  again  double 
itself  in  the  next  few  years,  for  the  consumption  in  Ala- 


UNIVERSITY  OF, 
ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 
PVT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


52 


Proceedings  of  the 

bama  and  the  neighboring  States  alone,  without  count- 
ing on  the  coal  for  export,  but  we  will  also  have  a large 
trade  in  coal  by  vessels  from  the  wharves  in  Mobile. 
Take  a map  of  the  United  States,  start  from  Mobile  up 
the  Mobile  river,  and  you  will  see  that  some  sixty  miles 
above  here  there  are  two  rivers,  the  Tombigbee  and  the 
Alabama ; follow  each  of  these  fine  streams  up  and  you 
will  see  other  rivers  running  into  each  of  them  some  few 
hundred  miles  above  here. 

“Now  of  the  six  rivers  that  we  have  in  the  State  five 
of  them  run  right  through  coal  beds.  It  is  true  that  the 
coal  beds  are  situated  on  the  head  waters  and  above 
present  navigation ; but  these  streams  can  and  will  be 
made  navigable  as  far  up  as  the  coal  beds. 

“And  then  there  are  magnificent  tracts  of  coal  lands 
now  within  twenty  or  thirty  miles  of  the  navigable  part 
of  one  of  these  rivers — a river  that  never  freezes  up  and 
that  is  navigable  eight  months  in  the  year.  When  these 
coal  lands  last  referred  to  are  developed  and  a railroad 
built  to  the  river,  with  barges  and  tug  boats,  coal  can 
be  dumped  on  to  the  barges  at  the  cost  of  $1.10  per 
ton.  It  can  then  be  transported  to  Mobile  in  large 
quantities  at  a cost  for  freight  of  less  than  50  cents  per 
ton,  and  transferred  from  the  barge  to  a ship  for  say  10 
cents  per  ton.  Add  50  cents  for  incidentals,  interest 
and  profit,  and  we  have  coal pjit  f 0.  b.  a vessel  in  a good 
port  (Mobile  is  now  the  cheapest  port  for  vessels  in  the 
United  States)  at  the  price  of  $ 2.20  per  ton. 

“No  coal  in  the  world  can  then  compete  with  Ala- 
bama coal  in  all  the  markets  of  the  Pacific  coast  and  of 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

“Mobile  will  supply  South  America,  Cuba,  Jamaica, 
the  Windward  Islands,  California,  Mexico,  Texas  and 
Florida.  I will  not  say  how  many  tons  per  year  this 


53 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

will  require,  but  the  trade  will  be  immense,  and  I will 
say  to  you  let  Mobile  lose  all  of  her  cotton  trade,  let  her 
lose  her  large  timber  and  lumber  trade,  let  her  lose  her 
naval  store  business,  her  new  but  profitable  and  rapidly 
increasing  vegetable  and  fruit  business  to  Northern 
cities,  let  her  lose  all  of  her  present  business,  and  her 
coal  business  of  the  future  alone  will  make  her  larger, 
greater  and  more  wealthy  than  she  has  ever  been.  I 
do  not  know  how  many  years  will  pass  before  coal  is 
brought  down  by  water  and  sold  at  a price  to  give  us 
this  great  business.  It  could  be  brought  about  in  twelve 
months  with  the  proper  use  of  a few  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  and  some  one  will  surely  see  it  and  act  on  it 
sooner  or  later,  and  make  a great  fortune  out  of  it,  be- 
sides being  a public  benefactor  not  only  to  Alabama 
and  to  Mobile,  but  to  the  United  States. 

“ I shall  close  by  saying  that  Mobile  will  be  the  great 
coal  port  of  the  United  States ; how  soon  depends  on 
the  proper  use  of  the  money  and  means  necessary  for 
the  work.” 

As  for  climate  and  health,  few  States  of  the  Union  are 
so  favored  as  Alabama.  The  rigorous  winters  of  more 
northerly  latitudes,  where  for  weeks  at  a time  labor  is 
at  a stand  still,  are  unknown  here.  Dr.  Wm.  H.  An- 
derson, ex-Vice  President  of  the  American  Medical  As- 
sociation, who  is  an  authority  on  such  subjects,  in  a 
paper  contributed  by  him  to  Berney’s  “Hand  Book  of 
Alabama,”  says:  “The  great  agricultural  and  mineral 
regions  of  the  State  are  unexceptionably  healthy,  while 
the  pine  district,  reaching  a hundred  miles  from  the 
coast  and  intersected  by  numerous  clear  and  coal  streams 
of  the  purest  water,  is  free  from  every  kind  of  disease. 
The  longevity  in  this  region  is  proverbial  and  the  cli- 
mate is  so  bland,  equable  and  delightful  that  this  por- 


54  Proceedings  of  the 

tion  of  the  State  is  fast  becoming  a popular  resort  dur- 
ing the  fall  and  winter  months  lor  invalids  from  the 
Northwest,  who  are  forced  to  seek  at  that  season  a more 
genial  climate  than  their  own/’  Speaking  of  the  great 
pine  region  near  the  coast,  he  says,  “The  whole  district 
is  exceedingly  healthy.  The  climate  is  softened  in  win- 
ter and  refreshed  in  summer  by  the  sea  breezes  from 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  No  more  beautiful  country  for  the 
residence  of  man  is  to  be  found  than  Southern  Alabama. 
The  elevation  above  the  sea  level  rarely  reaches  more 
than  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  and  the  table  lands  at 
this  elevation  are  noted  for  their  salubriousness  and  for 
the  comfortable  residence  of  invalids  from  the  North  and 
West,  both  in  winter  and  summer.  Abundance  of  fruit 
and  large  vineyards  are  found  in  this  region.  It  is  here, 
also,  that  the  charming  city  of  Mobile  is  located,  imme- 
diately on  the  Bay  of  Mobile  and  within  forty  miles  of 
the  Mexican  Gulf.  The  climate  of  Florida,  for  a winter 
residence,  although  more  noted,  is  not  so  agreeable  or 
so  wholesome  as  the  Gulf  Coast  of  Alabama.  The 
chilly  eastern  breeze  from  the  Atlantic,  which  is  so  dis- 
agreeable in  Florida  in  February  and  March  is  here  re- 
placed by  the  soft  wind  from  the  tropics.’ ’ 

While  the  government  of  Alabama  is  characterized 
by  prudence  and  economy,  it  exercises  a wise  and  lib- 
eral policy  in  all  matters  affecting  the  welfare  of  its  cit- 
izens where  State  supervision  can  be  rightfully  employed. 
In  its  fostering  care  of  the  indigent  insane,  the  blind  and 
the  deaf  and  dumb,  and  in  its  legislation  respecting  the 
public  health  the  government  is  not  behind  that  of  older 
and  wealthier  States.  Much  and  increasing  attention 
is  paid  to  public  education.  Five  hundred  thousand 
dollars  are  annually  expended  on  free  schools,  and  the 
appropriations  will  increase  with  the  State’s  revenues. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  55 

The  State  has  a well-equipped  University  at  Tuskaloo- 
sa,  and  an  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  at  Au- 
burn, where  tuition  is  free.  There  is  a Normal  School 
for  the  education  of  white  teachers  at  Florence,  also 
State  Normal  Schools  at  Marion,  Tuskegee,  Huntsville 
and  other  points,  for  the  education  of  colored  teachers, 
for  the  support  of  which  regular  annual  appropriations 
are  made.  There  are  besides  denominational  colleges 
of  the  highest  order  throughout  the  State. 

The  tax  rate  now  existing  in  Alabama  is  six  and  one- 
half  mills,  which,  in  view  of  the  large  and  rapid  increase 
in  assessable  values,  will  undoubtedly  be  reduced  at  the 
next  session  of  the  Legislature  to  five  mills  or  less. 
The  Constitution  prohibits  the  levying  of  a greater  rate 
than  seven  and  one-half  mills  011  the  dollar,  and  the 
counties  are  prohibited  from  levying  a greater  rate  than 
five  mills,  except  for  the  payment  of  debts  existing  at 
the  ratification  of  the  State  Constitution,  which  rate 
shall  not  exceed  two  and  one-half  mills. 

The  following  property,  to  be  selected  by  the  head  of 
the  family,  is  exempt  from  taxation ; Household  and 
kitchen  furniture  to  the  extent  of  $150;  one  yoke  of 
oxen  ; one  cart  or  wagon  ; two  cows  and  calves ; twenty 
head  of  stock  hogs ; ten  head  of  sheep  ; all  poultry ; all 
corn  ; provisions  and  supplies  on  hand  for  the  current 
year  for  the  use  of  the  family  and  the  making  of  a crop  ; 
all  wearing  apparel;  all  looms  and  spinning  wheels  kept 
for  use  in  the  family  ; farmers’  tools  to  the  value  of  $25 
and  tools  and  implements  of  mechanics  to  the  value  of 

$25. 

The  following  is  exempt  from  sale  under  the  process 
of  any  court,  viz.:  Personal  property  to  the  value  of 
one  thousand  dollars;  homestead  not  exceeding  160 
acres  if  in  the  country,  nor  two  thousand  dollars  in 


56 


Proceedi  ngs  of  the 

value,  or  a dwelling  and  lot  in  a town  or  city  not  ex- 
ceeding two  thousand  dollars  in  value,  family  burial 
lots,  church  pews,  family  wearing  apparel,  family  por- 
traits and  books  used  in  the  family.  After  owner’s 
death,  if  there  be  a widow  or  minor  child,  the  home- 
stead is  reserved  during  widow’s  life  or  child’s  minority, 
whichever  terminates  last;  also  sufficient  grain,  stores 
and  groceries  on  hand  for  family  support  for  twelve 
months  and  all  household  and  kitchen  furniture  neces- 
sary for  family  use. 

Not  the  least  among  the  features  of  interest  in  Ala- 
bama are  her  principal  cities,  every  one  of  which  pre- 
sents solid  inducements  to  the  introduction  of  capital 
and  enterprise.  Mobile,  the  Gulf  City,  is  conceded  by 
all  who  have  ever  lived  or  sojourned  in  it  to  be  a most 
charming  place  of  residence.  Its  social  attractions  and 
hospitality  are  proverbial.  It  is  liberally  endowed  with 
educational  and  religious  institutions.  Its  public  schools 
rank  among  the  very  best.  The  Barton  Academy,  an 
imposing  Ionic  structure,  which  is  the  central  depart- 
ment of  the  system,  contains  the  grammar  and  high 
schools.  At  this  Academy  both  sexes  receive  as  com- 
plete an  education  as  could  be  obtained  at  many  of  the 
colleges  in  the  Union. 

Mobile  contains  excellent  hotels  and  a number  of  pri- 
vate boarding  houses,  where  guests  may  enjoy  the  so- 
ciety of  refined  and  cultivated  families  and  realize  in  a 
great  measure  the  comfort  and  privacy  of  home  life.  Its 
spacious  avenues  are  flanked  on  either  side  by  majestic 
oaks,  intermingled  here  and  there  with  stately  magno- 
lias— indeed,  Mobile  may  well  be  called  the  City  of 
Trees. 

It  has  elegant  drives,  leading  through  beautiful  sub- 
urbs into  a country  which  has  grown  picturesque  in  re- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  57 

cent  years  under  the  well  repaid  toil  of  the  market  gar- 
dener and  the  farmer.  Its  far-famed  shell  road  skirts 
along  the  shore  a distance  of  more  than  six  miles,  re- 
vealing to  the  rapt  gaze  a panorama  of  swipt-gliding 
steamers  serving  the  behests  of  commerce,  mingled  with 
countless  white  sails  tossing  on  the  foam-crested  waves 
of  a beautiful  bay. 

Its  comfortable,  but  not  pretentious,  dwelling  are  sur- 
rounded by  gardens  of  choice  shrubbery  and  rare  flow- 
ers, delighting  the  senses  with  their  gorgeous  colors  and 
exquisite  perfume,  and  making  the  atmosphere  redolent 
with  the  ordor  of  the  magnolia  fuscati , the  sweet  olive, 
orange  blossoms,  the  violet  and  the  jessamine.  It  is  a 
well-ordered  and  law-abiding  city.  In  point  of  health  it 
challenges  comparison  with  any  city  in  the  Union,  and 
has  the  advantage  of  a delightful  climate  both  winter 
and  summer.  While  in  higher  latitudes  a portion  of  the 
summer  is  frequently  so  hot  as  to  be  almost  unendura- 
ble, in  Mobile  the  heat  is  mitigated  by  the  cool  salt 
breezes  which  come  laden  with  moisture  from  the  Gulf, 
and  in  winter  it  is  entirely  exempt  from  the  cold,  raw 
east  winds  which  come  from  the  Atlantic,  and  which 
make  Florida  such  a disappointment  to  invalids.  Its 
merchants  are  active  and  enterprising,  and  its  banks 
and  insurance  companies  enjoy  an  enviable  reputation 
for  soundness  and  conservatism. 

Its  chief  exports  are  cotton,  lumber,  naval  stores,  coal, 
fish,  oysters,  fruit,  vegetables  and  manufactured  goods. 
In  the  line  of  manufactures  it  has  first-class  iron  and 
brass  foundries,  cotton  mills,  sash  and  blind  factory,  bar- 
rel and  box  factory,  shingle  factories,  tanneries,  ice  fac- 
tory, lumber  and  planing  mills,  etc. 

It  needs  a furniture  factory,  a shoe  factory,  a saddle 
and  harness  factory,  a glass  factory,  a clothing  factory, 


58 


Proceedings  of  the 

a plough  factory,  a wooden-ware  factory,  a spoke,  hub 
and  handle  factory.  All  these  industries  would  do  well 
in  Mobile. 

Within  a short  distance  of  Mobile  are  lands  of  easy 
access  where  may  be  found  in  abundance  cypress,  juni- 
per, cedar,  oak,  hickory,  elm,  ash,  poplar,  gum  and 
other  woods  which  could  be  manufactured  at  the  lowest 
cost  and  find  in  Mobile  a distributing  market  for  a 
large,  populous  and  growing  section.  Wagons,  wagon 
wheels,  wheelbarrows,  tubs,  buckets,  barrels,  boxes,  han- 
dles and  other  articles  of  every-day  use  could  be  prof- 
itably manufactured  here  by  persons  skilled  in  the  busi- 
ness. 

Living  is  cheaper  in  Mobile  than  in  most  cities  of  its 
size.  It  has  fish,  oysters,  game,  fruits  and  vegetables 
in  abundance,  and  by  its  river  and  railroad  connections 
is  quickly  and  cheaply  supplied  with  eggs,  poultry  and 
Western  produce,  while  it  receives  fresh  from  the  West 
Indian  ports  cargoes  of  plantains,  bananas,  cocoanuts, 
pineapples,  etc. 

Montgomery,  the  capital  of  Alabama,  is  a very  at- 
tractive city  of  probably  17,000  inhabitants.  It  is  180 
miles  by  rail  and  about  400  miles  by  river  from  Mobile. 
It  occupies  a very  central  position  geographically  and  is 
in  the  midst  of  prairie  lands  of  surpassing  fertility.  It 
has  ample  railroad  facilities,  making  it  easily  accessible 
from  every  portion  of  the  State.  It  is  an  active,  pro- 
gressive place  and  rejoices  in  a steady,  healthy  growth. 
There  is  nothing  ephemeral  in  its  aspect,  but  every- 
where are  to  be  seen  the  evidences  of  permanence  and 
durability  which  are  surely  indicative  of  a promising 
future.  The  ground  on  which  it  rests  is  hilly  and  some- 
what broken,  thus  affording  excellent  facilities  for  drain- 
age and  giving  ample  scope  for  the  exercise  of  arch- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  59 

itectural  skill  and  taste  in  the  construction  of  residences. 
No  city  of  its  size  can  boast  of  more  beautiful  and  pic- 
turesque dwellings.  The  exhibition  of  taste  everywhere 
discernible  in  the  exterior  appearance  of  the  capital 
city  is  but  a reflex  of  the  culture  and  refinement  which 
characterize  its  home  life. 

Selma,  the  county  seat  of  Dallas  county,  is  a town  of 
about  8,000  inhabitants.  Its  latitude  is  nearly  that  of 
Montgomery  and  its  position  equally  central.  It  is  sit- 
uated on  the  Alabama  river,  308  miles  from  Mobile,  has 
fine  railroad  connections,  is  the  distributing  center  for  a 
very  rich  and  populous  portion  of  the  State,  and  its  com- 
mercial interests  are  steadily  expanding.  Located  as 
it  is  in  respect  of  the  mineral  regions  of  the  State,  it 
bids  fair  to  become,  at  no  distant  day,  a manufacturing 
center  of  considerable  importance.  Like  Montgomery, 
it  is  a city  of  many  attractions,  with  handsome  build- 
ings, pretty  residences,  cultivated  society,  and  is  the 
home  of  not  a few  men  conspicuous  for  intellectual  abil- 
ity. Huntsville,  Tuscaloosa,  Talladega,  Eufaula,  Troy 
and  many  other  towns  and  cities  deserve  a more  ex- 
tended notice  than  the  limits  of  this  paper  will  allow, 
but  each  of  them  possesses  features  of  interest  to  those 
who  may  seek  homes  or  profitable  investments  in  the 
State.  There  are,  however,  some  other  communities 
whose  history  is  entirely  post  belluni  which  must  not 
be  passed  without  a brief  reference  to  them.  Birming- 
ham, the  county  site  of  Jefferson  county,  is  in  the  midst 
of  the  great  mineral  region  of  the  State.  It  has  rail- 
road connection  in  every  direction,  being  accessible  by 
the  Alabama  Great  Southern,  the  Louisville  & Nash- 
ville and  the  Georgia  Pacific.  It  has  a population  of 
12,000,,  and  capital  and  labor  gravitate  to  “the  magic 
city”  at  a constantly  accelerating  pace.  In  1872  its  first 


6o 


Proceedings  of  the 

house  was  erected,  and  its  population  within  the  past 
three  years  has  more  than  doubled. 

Anniston,  in  Calhoun  county,  is  a beautiful  town,  whose 
history  is  short  and  remarkable  and  whose  future  is  most 
promising.  It  was  first  settled  about  eight  years  ago, 
and  now  it  has  a population  of  about  5,000.  It  has 
broad  macadamized  streets,  lighted  by  electricity,  fine 
stores,  beautiful  residences,  a national  bank,  a com- 
plete system  of  water-works,  iron  furnaces,  cotton  fac- 
tories, car-wheel  works,  and  many  other  industries 
backed  by  ample  capitol.  Cullman,  the  county  seat  of 
Cullman  county,  is  the  fruit  of  Mr.  John  G.  Cullman’s 
successful  efforts  to  plant  a German  colony  in  the  State. 
Its  location  is  on  the  Louisville  & Nashville  railroad  in 
the  great  mineral  belt  of  the  State.  The  town  is  ex- 
ceedingly prosperous  and  is  growing  all  the  while,  de- 
pending as  it  does  upon  diversified  industries,  among 
which  are  included  tanneries,  furniture  factories,  shingle 
and  barrel  factories,  wagon  factories,  lime  kiln,  brick 
yard,  etc. 

There  are  many  other  features  of  interest  connected 
with  Alabama  which  cannot  now  be  discussed,  but  suf- 
ficient, perhaps,  has  been  set  forth  in  this  imperfect 
sketch  to  awaken  an  interest  in  those  who  are  not  already 
informed  of  the  State’s  unsurpassed  resources  and  at- 
tractions. 

ADDRESS  BY  THE  HON.  E.  C.  BETTS,  COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRI- 
CULTURE, ETC. 

Alabama  is  situated  between  the  eighty-fifth  and 
eighty-ninth  degrees  of  west  longitude  and  the  thirty- 
first  and  thirty-fifth  parallels  of  north  latitude.  The 
thirty-fifth  parallel  makes  the  northern  boundary  of  the 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  6 1 

State  and  the  thirty-first  the  southern,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  that  portion  west  of  the  Perdido  river,  which  ex- 
tends south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  form  is  thus 
seen  to  be  oblong,  with  the  greater  dimension  from 
north  to  south.  The  total  area  thus  included  is,  accord- 
ing to  the  latest  estimates,  52,250  square  miles,  and  the 
total  land  surface  51,540  square  miles. 

Surface  contour.  Leaving  out  of  account  the  minor 
irregularities,  the  surface  of  the  State  ma>  be  consid- 
ered as  an  undulating  plain,  whose  mean  elevation  above 

sea-level  cannot  be  much  less  than  600  feet. 

% 

Toward  the  north  and  east  the  surface  rises  above 
this  level,  and  toward  the  south  and  west  it  sinks  below 
it.  The  arch  of  a circle,  with  Chattanooga  as  a center, 
described  from  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  State 
around  to  the  Chattahoochee  river  at  Columbus,  would 
include  the  area  whose  general  elevation  is  above  600 
feet.  The  axis  of  this  elevation,  which  is  the  southern 
terminus  of  the  great  Appalachian  mountain  chain,  runs 
northeast  and  southwest,  and  the  altitude  increases  to- 
ward the  northeast.  There  is  thus  a general  slope 
away  from  this  elevated  region  toward  all  points  of  the 
compass  from  southeast  around  to  northwest.  The 
mountains  of  the  State  rest  upon  this  high  land  and 
often  reach  an  elevation  above  it  of  1,200  or  1,500  feet, 
or  above  sea-level  of  2,000  or  2,500  feet. 

Population.  The  population  of  the  State  is : whites, 
662,185;  blacks,  600, 103  ; total,  1,262,505. 

Health.  The  death  rate  of  the  whole  white  popula- 
tion of  the  United  States  is  14.74  per  thousand.  That  of 
Alabama  is  14.04,  being  a fraction  less  than  the  average. 

The  prevalent  diseases  are  mostly  of  a malarial  char- 
acter, originating  in  local  causes,  readily  detected  and 
easily  avoided. 


62 


Proceedings  of  the 

There  are  within  the  State  about  2,000  miles  of  rail- 
road and  about  1,500  miles  of  navigable  rivers  very  ad- 
vantageously distributed  for  the  transportation  of  the 
products  of  the  chief  areas  of  agricultural  production. 

Taxation.  By  the  terms  of  the  constitution  the  rate 
of  taxation  for  State  purposes  can  never  exceed  three- 
fourths  of  one  per  cent.  The  actual  rate  is  sixty-five 
hundredths  of  one  per  cent.,  which  will  be  gradually  re- 
duced as  there  had  accumulated  in  the  State  treasury  at 
the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  nearly  half  a million  surplus. 
The  counties  are  limited  to  one-half  the  State  rate,  and 
few  of  them  find  it  necessary  to  go  to  this  limit  as  the 
debt  of  most  of  them  are  insignificant. 

School  system.  The  public  school  system  is  very  sim- 
ilar to  that  of  most  other  States.  The  expenditure  for 
that  purpose  last  year  amounted  to  $510,714.90.  The 
number  of  schools  taught  were  4,824. 

There  are  two  State  colleges.  The  University  of 
Alabama,  at  Tuscaloosa,  having  a stated  revenue  of 
$24,000,  which  will  be  largely  increased  by  the  recent 
donation  of  public  lands  by  Congress,  and  the  agricultu- 
ral and  mechanical  college  at  Auburn,  Alabama,  having 
a stated  income  *of  $20,000  annually. 

There  are  many  other  colleges,  mostly  denominational, 
and  high  schools  for  females  abound  in  all  sections  of 
the  State. 

Water  p oio er.  The  topography  of  the  State,  as  indi- 
cated, implies  the  existence  of  abundant  water  power, 
unaffected  by  drought  of  summer  or  the  frost  of  winter, 
located  for  the  most  part  in  those  regions  which  are 
most  free  from  malarial  diseases,  most  thinly  populated 
and  in  which  most  of  the  land  still  in  the  hands  of  the 
General  Government  lies. 

There  are  several  million  acres  of  land  belonging  to 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  63 

the  United  States  still  open  to  entry,  embracing  much 
of  the  best  cotton-producing  lands  of  the  State,  and  a 
vast  quantity  of  very  fine  timber. 

Alabama  has  about  150  miles  of  Gulf  Coast,  including 
Mobile  Bay.  The  climate  of  the  vicinity  of  Mobile  and 
its  bay  is  sub-tropical  and  that  region  is  already  the  seat 
of  a flourishing  truck  farming  industry  in  all  its  branches, 
which  is  rapidly  increasing  and  must  ultimately  acquire 
great  proportions. 

The  climate  of  Mobile  as  a winter  resort  has  no  supe- 
rior on  the  continent ; and  the  coast  of  the  Bay  is  the 
seat  of  several  of  the  most  frequented  and  salubrious 
summer  resorts  in  the  United  States. 

Agricultural  divisions  or  regions — - Middle  division. 
Embracing  all  of  Cleburne,  Calhoun,  St.  Clair,  Shelby, 
Talladega,  Clay,  Randolph,  Chambers  and  Coosa;  nar- 
row belts  through  Jackson,  Marshall,  DeKalb  and 
Blount,  Southern  Cherokee,  most  of  Etowah,  southeast- 
ern Jefferson,  a small  strip  along  the  southeastern  edge 
of  Tuscaloosa,  northern  Bibb,  eastern  half  of  Chilton, 
southern  Elmore,  Tallapoosa  and  Lee. 

Sub-divisions — 1.  The  metamorphic  region.  This  being 
a part  of  the  great  Appalachian  chain,  includes  some  of 
the  most  elevated  land  in  the  State  in  the  counties  of 
Cleburne,  Randolph,  Chambers,  Lee,  Macon,  Talla- 
poosa, Clay,  Coosa,  Elmore  and  Chilton,  comprising  an 
area  of  4,425  square  miles. 

2.  The  Coosa  Valley  region  and  its  outliers.  The  main 
Coosa  Valley  is  from  fifteen  to  twenty  or  thirty  miles 
wide,  and  is  embraced  in  the  counties  of  Cherokee, 
Cleburne,  Calhoun,  Etowah,  Saint  Clair,  Talladega, 
Shelby,  Coosa  and  Chilton,  and  has  an  area,  including 
its  ridge  lands,  of  2,580  square  miles.  Its  outliers  are: 

,i.  The  Cahaba  Valley,  lying  between  the  Coosa  and 


64 


Proceedi?igs  of  the 

Cahaba  coal-fields,  in  Saint  Clair,  Jefferson,  Shelby  and 
Bibb  counties,  its  area  being  385  square  miles.  2. 
Roup’s  and  Jones’  Valley,  between  the  Cahaba  and 
Warrior  coal-fields,  in  Jefferson,  Tuscaloosa  and  Bibb 
counties,  area  285  square  miles.  3.  Will’s  Valley,  be- 
tween Lookout  and  Sand  mountains,  in  DeKalb,  Eto- 
wah and  Saint  Clair  counties,  area  460  square  miles. 
4.  Murphree’s  Valley,  in  Etowah  and  Blount  counties, 
area  110  square  miles.  5.  Blount  Springs  or  Brown’s 
Valley,  which  is  a prolongation  into  Alabama  of  the 
Sequatchie  Valley  of  Tennessee,  and  runs  through  Jack- 
son,  Marshall  and  Blount  counties,  an  area  of  about  460 
square  miles. 

Northern  division.  This  division  embraces  all  of  Law- 
rence, Winston,  Walker,  Cullman,  Morgan,  Limestone 
and  Madison,  parts  of  DeKalb,  Cherokee,  Etowah,  Jack- 
son,  Marshall,  Blount,  Jefferson,  Tuscaloosa,  Fayette, 
Marion,  Franklin,  Colbert  and  Lauderdale,  area  esti- 
mated at  9,700  square  miles. 

Sub-divisions. — ///.  Coal-measures  region — Coosa  and 
Cahaba  coal-fields.  The  Coosa  field  embraces  about 
thirty  square  miles  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Calhoun, 
about  150  in  St.  Clair  and  about  235  in  Shelby  county, 
making  about  415  square  miles. 

The  Cahaba  field  includes  about  fifty  square  miles  in 
St.  Clair,  100  in  Jefferson,  160  in  Shelby  and  125  in 
Bibb  county,  aggregating  435  square  miles.  Only  sev- 
enty-five square  miles  in  Bibb  county  are  free  from 
drift,  so  that  the  area  depending  upon  coal  measures  for 
its  soil  is  reduced  to  385  square  miles.  Northwest  of 
the  Coosa  Valley  the  mountains  are  generally  level  on 
top,  forming  table-lands  ten  to  fifteen  miles  broad,  sep- 
arated by  long  and  narrow  valleys.  Approximately, 
the  area  of  the  elevated  lands  or  plateaus  as  above  men- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  65 

tioned  would  be  about  1,690  square  miles  on  Sand 
Mountain  and  its  spur,  about  290  square  miles  on  Look- 
out Mountain,  about  280  square  miles  in  the  detached 
spurs  of  the  Cumberland  northwest  of  the  Tennessee, 
and  to  these  might  be  added  about  half  the  area  of  Cull- 
man county,  whose  measures  partake  of  the  character 
of  both  the  table-lands  and  of  the  basin,  about  295 
square  miles,  aggregating  in  all  2,855  square  miles. 

2.  The  Warrior  Basm.  Includes  all  of  Walker  and 
Winston  counties,  parts  of  Cullman,  Morgan,  Lawrence, 
Franklin,  Marion,  Lamar,  P'ayette,  Tuscaloosa  and  Jef- 
ferson counties,  aggregating  about  4,955  square  miles. 

The  whole  area  of  the  Warrior  field  is  estimated  at 
about  7,810  square  miles. 

IV.  The  Tennessee  Valley  Region.  Under  this  head 
are  included  not  only  the  immediate  valley  of  the  Ten- 
nessee river,  but  the  whole  region  in  Alabama  drained 
by  its  tributaries,  except  the  anticlinal  valley,  down 
which  the  river  flows  in  Jackson  county,  and  the  table- 
lands of  DeKalb,  the  Cumberland  spurs  in  Jackson, 
Madison  and  Marshall  already  described,  and  the  drift- 
belt  in  Franklin,  Colbert  and  Lauderdale  counties. 
With  these  limits,  this  region  will  embrace  an  area  on 
both  sides  of  the  Tennessee,  extending  from  the  State 
line  on  the  north  to  the  coal  measures  of  the  Warrior 
fields  on  the  South.  The  average  width  of  this  drain- 
age area  from  north  to  south  is  about  forty-five  miles, 
and  includes  parts  of  Jackson,  Marshall,  Morgan,  Law- 
rence, Franklin,  Colbert  and  Lauderdale  and  all  of 
Limestone  and  part  of  Madison  county,  aggregating 
4,530  square  miles. 

Agricultural  Features.  The  coal  measures  present 
substantially  the  same  characters  everywhere  as  regards 


5 


66 


Proceedings  of  the 

soils,  but  important  variations  result  from  differences  in 
latitude  and  in  elevation  above  the  sea.  The  plateaus 
seem  to  be  specially  suited  to  the  growth  of  fruit  and 
vegetables  and  nutritious  grasses ; but  since  cotton  is 
the  southern  crop  par  excellence,  neither  the  plateaus 
nor  the  other  parts  of  the  coal-fields  have  hitherto  been 
in  good  repute  as  farming  lands.  As  yet,  this  part  of 
the  State  is  comparatively  thinly  settled,  but  its  many 
advantages  are  gradually  being  appreciated. 

The  Southern  Division.  All  that  part  of  the  State 
south  and  west  of  the  limits  of  the  middle  and  northern 
divisions  is  embraced  in  the  southern  division,  which 
includes  the  whole  or  parts  of  Lauderdale,  Colbert, 
Franklin,  Marion,  Lamar,  Fayette,  Tuscaloosa,  Bibb, 
Chilton,  Elmore,  Tallapoosa  and  Lee,  all  of  Pickens, 
Greene,  Hale,  Sumter,  Choctaw,  Marengo,  Dallas,  Per- 
ry, Autauga,  Lowndes,  Montgomery,  Macon,  Russell, 
Bullock,  Barbour,  Pike,  Crenshaw,  Butler,  Wilcox, 
Monroe,  Clarke,  Washington,  Mobile,  Baldwin,  Escum- 
bia,  Conecuh,  Covington,  Geneva,  Coffee,  Dale  and 
Henry.  The  area  is  about  32,335  square  miles. 

Taken  as  a whole,  the  surface  of  the  southern  divis- 
ion has  a general  slope  from  the  margin  of  the  two  di- 
visions just  described,  i.  e .,  west  and  south  toward  the 
Mississippi  basin  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  This  general 
slope  is  interrupted  by  the  trough  of  the  central  prairie 
region,  which  is  depressed  many  feet  below  the  general 
level  both  north  and  south  of  it,  and  also  on  a limited 
scale  by  the  trough  of  the  flatwoods. 

South  of  the  prairie  belt  there  is  a line  of  rocky  hills 
made  by  the  hard  sandstones  and  claystones  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  tertiary  formation,  beyond  which,  to- 
ward the  south,  the  country  falls  away  very  gradually 
and  uniformly  to  the  coast. 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 67 

Sub-divisions . U. — 7X?  Oak  and  Pine  Upland  Region . 
This  region  and  its  sub-divisions  embrace  an  area  of 
16,915  square  miles,  and  includes  some  of  the  best  up- 
lands in  the  State.  As  far  north  as  about  latitude  330 
30'  the  long-leaf  pine  is  prevalent;  farther  north  it  is  the 
short-leaf  pine.  This  region  includes  the  whole  or  part 
of  Lauderdale,  Colbert,  Marion,  Lamar,  Lafayette,  Tus- 
caloosa and  Pickens  counties,  about  4,135  square  miles. 

Gravelly  Pine  Hills , with  Long-leaf  Pine . This  sub- 
division is  a belt  averaging  perhaps  thirty  miles  wide, 
bordering  on  the  (metamorphic,  silurian  and  carbonifer- 
ous) formation.  This  belt  extends  from  Lauderdale  on 
the  northwest  to  Russell  county  on  the  east,  and  in- 
cludes following  counties  and  parts  of  counties  : The 
western  portion  of  Lauderdale,  Colbert,  Franklin,  Ma- 
rion, Lamar  and  Fayette,  nearly  all  of  Pickens,  Tusca- 
loosa and  Bibb,  northern  Greene,  Hale,  Perry  and  Dal- 
las, southern  Chilton,  nearly  all  of  Autauga,  southern 
Elmore  and  Tallapoosa,  northern  Montgomery,  most  of 
Macon  and  Russell  and  southern  Lee. 

The  whole  area  of  Gravelly  Hills,  with  short-leaf  and 
long-leaf  pines  characterizing  the  country,  is  about  8,820 
square  miles. 

Oak  and  Hickory  Uplands  zvith  Long -leaf  Pine.  Under 
this  head  are  embraced  parts  of  the  following  counties: 
Sumter,  Choctaw,  Clarke,  Marengo,  Wilcox,  Monroe, 
Conecuh,  Butler,  Crenshaw,  Covington,  Coffee,  Pike, 
Montgomery,  Bullock,  Barbour.  Dale  and  Henry,  and 
the  area  included  is  about  8,095  square  miles. 

VI.  Central  Prairie  Region . This  forms  a belt  run- 
ning diagonally  across  the  State,  with  a width  of  about 
thirty  miles,  near  the  Mississippi  line,  narrowing  as  it 
goes  eastward  and  disappearing  in  Russell  county. 

The  prairie  region  includes  parts  of  Pickens,  Sumter, 


68 


Proceedings  of  the 

Greene,  Hale,  Butler,  Montgomery,  Crenshaw,  Bullock, 
Macon,  Russell  and  Barbour  counties,  embracing  an 
area  approximately  of  5,915  square  miles.  As  here 
used,  the  term  “prairie”  does  not  always  mean  a tim- 
berless region,  but  refers  rather  to  the  character  of  the 
soil. 

VI.  Long-leaf  Pine  Region.  This  region  includes  parts 
of  Washington,  Mobile,  Baldwin,  Clarke,  Monroe,  Cone- 
cuh, Escombia,  Covington,  Coffee,  Geneva,  Dale  and 
Henry  counties,  an  area  of  6,570  square  miles. 

Whilst  the  several  counties  constituting  what  is  com- 
monly designated  as  the  “ black  belt  ” are  all  embraced 
in  the  several  regions  above  described  and  are  properly 
classified  with  respect  to  their  dominant  geological 
features  and  elements  of  soil,  yet  a few  remarks  upon 
this  locality  from  a slightly  different  point  of  view  may 
not  be  unappropriate. 

This  region  includes  all  or  parts  of  the  counties  of 
Sanford,  Pickens,  Greene,  Sumter,  Hale,  Marengo, 
Perry,  Dallas,  Wilcox,  Lowndes,  Autauga,  Montgom- 
ery, Macon,  Lee,  Russell,  Barbour,  Crenshaw  and  Pike. 

No  part  of  this  continent  exceeded  this  section  in  the 
value  of  its  agricultural  products  before  the  war. 

The  whole  value  of  its  products  by  the  census  of  i860 
was  $33,343,226.  The  whole  value  of  its  products  by  the 
census  of  1880  was  $20,825,128. 

The  difference  between  these  two  amounts  measures 
in  a general  way  the  difference  between  the  efficiency 
of  labor  at  these  two  several  periods.  It  is  true  that 
the  lands  have  deteriorated,  but  the  population  has  at 
the  same  time  considerably  increased,  so  that  on  the 
whole  the  difference  may  be  fairly  attributable  to  the 
decline  in  the  efficiency  of  the  negro  as  a laborer;  or, 
what  a mounts  to  the  same  thing  from  the  point  of  view 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


69 


of  those  examining  these  statistics  with  a view  to  immi- 
gration, to  the  withdrawal  under  the  new  conditions  of 
a considerable  proportion  of  the  labor  available  under 
the  previous  conditions,  the  female  part  of  the  negroes 
not  constituting  to  as  great  extent  as  formerly  a reliable 
part  of  the  effective  “hands.” 

My  object  in  exhibiting  this  contrast  between  then 
and  now  is  to  show  to  persons  in  search  of  new  fields  of 
agricultural  industry  what  the  actual  capacity  of  the  pro- 
ductive powers  of  the  State  were  before  the  war;  and  as 
the  labor  element  alone  has  been  disturbed  by  the  re- 
sults of  the  war,  leaving  them  to  draw  the  inference  as  to 
what  it  might  be  now,  with  a labor  of  the  same  or  supe- 
rior degree  of  efficiency. 


70 


Proceedings  of  the 


Table,  Showing  Population  and  Cotton  Production  in  each  Agricultural  Region  of  the  State. 

COTTON  PRODUCTION. 

•aiira  ojimbs  J9d  sgjea 

3 | ^ ^ JO  0>  O 00  rH 

•oiini  gjunbs 
jad  aSBaioR  nonoo 

COCOCMlOOrHCXNlO 

lOWH^WCOH^ 

•uotjonpoid  x'Rjo'j 
S,^S  JO  9St*JU99  LOJ 

8 

OOOCOOjTfiOOr^rH 

Total  in  tons.  1 

•paas 

O 

§8 

U 

CO 

33,860 

25,032 

10,304 

40,112 

13,682 

17,584 

132,292 

57,352 

2,018 

•juiq 

s 

CO 

o 

16,9301 

12,516! 

5,152! 

20,056! 

6.841 

8.842 
66,146! 
28,676! 

1,009 

Aver’ge  per  acre.] 

•paas 

1 

•juyi 

CO 

COO<C10l^COOOTt<CO 

•uonoD-paos 

o 

?i 

Oi  O 00  CO  H a>  lO  Oi  Ol 
Cl  1^  O to  C^  00  C4  Cl 

(■spunod  t}£lO 

9p?q  JO  UOT'ID'BJJ 

10.30 

OOiOClCOOI^OO 

CO^COCOCOCOdCOCO 

O rH  O 0 0*0000 

Bales. 

s 

CO 

8 

CO 

71,285 

52,699 

21,692 

84,447 

28,806! 

37,229 

278,508 

120,739 

4,349 

Acres. 

CO 

8 

O 

8 

<N 

236,745 

131,505 

62,863 

260,861 

87,496 

122,587 

1,014,606 

399,357 

14,066 

POPULATION. 

Colored 

1 

O 

04 

CO 

cf 

8 

44,633 

30,977 

8,956 

61,345 

16,307 

32,949 

288,184 

87,262 

29.707 

White. 

1 

<Miocu>coaot^Ht^ 
COiOHCil^t'O 
O^CO  O r^QO  00  00  CO 

»o  oo  co  cf  t-f  of 

CCl^t^OCOTj«COOTf< 

s 

Total. 

O 1 

o 

l° 

of 

8 

rH 

129,705 

109,155 

85,988 

168,502 

53.120 

75,847 

376,061 

186,633 

77,494 

•saxjui  aximbs  uj  R9jy 

iC 

5 

OOOOOQOOO 
CO  CO  I>  CO  CO  O (N  l>  QQ 
TT  OO  J>0  0 C^T^iPS 

^ co  oo  co  co  aTafo 

Total 

Metamorphic  region 

Coosa  Valley  region 

Coal  Measures  region 

Tennessee  Valley  region 

Oak  and  hickory  uplands,  with  short-leaf  pine.. . 

Gravelly  Hills,  with  long-leaf  pine 

Central  Prairie  region 

Oak  and  hickory  uplands,  with  long-leaf  pine 

Long-leaf  pine  region 

Southern  Immigration  Association.  71 

The  different  regions,  when  referred  to  below,  are  in- 
dicated by  the  numbers  opposite  their  names  in  follow- 
ing table : 

I.  Metamorphic  region. 

II.  Coosa  Valley  region. 

III.  Coal  Measures  region. 

IV.  Tennessee  Valley  region. 

V.  Oak  and  hickory  upland,  with  short-leaf  pine. 

VI.  Gravelly  Hills,  with  long-leaf  pine. 

VII.  Central  prairie  region. 

VIII.  Oak  and  hickory  uplands,  with  long-leaf  pine. 

IX.  Long-leaf  pine  region 

Labor  and  System  of  Farming.  In  regions  I.,  II.,  III. 
and  V.  the  farms  are  usually  small,  containing  not  more 
than  200  acres,  but  in  some  cases  much  larger.  In  the 
other  regions  farms  vary  in  size  from  forty  or  fifty  to 
1,000,  or  even  2,000  acres.  In  the  regions  of  small 
farms,  supplies  are  largely  raised  at  home  and  there  is 
a reported  increase  of  production.  In  the  regions  of 
large  farms,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  in  some  local- 
ities increased  production,  but  meat  is  still  largely  im- 
ported. 

In  the  middle  and  southern  portions  of  the  State  there 
is  little  or  no  wheat  produced,  and  hence  flour  is  almost 
universally  imported  into  these  sections. 

The  laborers  are  negroes  and  native  whites,  the 
former  largely  predominating  in  the  regions  of  large 
farms,  the  latter  on  small  farms  for  the  most  part.  In 
the  latter  cases  the  laborer  is  generally  the  owner  of  the 
farm.  Wages  are  paid  in  many  ways  and  at  various 
rates,  from  forty  to  seventy-five  cents  per  day  and  from 
eight  to  fourteen  dollars  per  month,  to  be  paid  at  the 
end  of  the  month. 

The  large  cotton  farms  or  plantations  are  almost  alto- 


7 2 


Proceedings  of  the 


gether  worked  on  the  share  system,  the  smaller  farms 
being  usually  worked  by  the  owners,  with  such  hired 
labor  or  help  as  may  be  needed  on  occasions.  It  is 
almost  the  universal  practice  on  the  large  farms  for  the 
landlord  to  furnish  everything  but  the  laborer’s  board 
and  receive  one-half  of  all  the  crops;  but  when  only  the 
land  is  furnished  by  the  owner  he  receives  usually  one- 
fourth  of  the  cotton  and  one-third  of  the  corn  produced 
by  the  laborer.  It  is  almost  invariably  reported  that 
this  system  of  cotton  culture  damages  the  quality  of  the 
cotton  and  deteriorates  the  land. 

There  is  a very  decided  difference  of  opinion  as  to 
which  is  the  best  system  (wages  or  shares).  With  the 
exception  of  regions  IV.,  V.  and  VI.,  opinions  are  about 
equally  divided ; in  these,  however,  there  is  almost  en- 
tire concurrence  in  the  opinion  that  wages  are  the  best. 
The  reasons  assigned  in  favor  of  wages  are  that  the  la- 
borer is  sure  of  reward  and  a comfortable  living  and  the 
employer  is  enabled  to  control  labor  and  justifiable  in 
making  larger  expenditures  in  fertilizers,  etc.,  to  increase 
the  yield.  It  is  urged  in  favor  of  the  share  system  that 
the  laborer  is  encouraged  to  make  effort,  and  that  if  he 
is  industrious  and  energetic  he  will  be  rewarded  with 
larger  returns  for  his  labor.  On  the  whole,  the  condi- 
tion of  the  laborer  is  good,  better  perhaps  than  that  of 
the  same  class  of  persons  in  any  other  quarter  of  the 
globe.  Very  few  negroes  own  houses  or  lands  in  the 
large  farming  regions. 

Cotton  lands  in  the  greater  part  of  the  State  are  valued 
at  from  three  to  ten  and  twelve  dollars,  while  in  a few 
localities,  such  as  Perry,  Marengo,  etc.,  in  region  VI., 
and  the  best  lands  in  the  Tennessee  Valley  region  are 
estimated  at  fifteen,  twenty,  thirty  dollars,  and  in  some 
few  cases  even  higher.  Rent  varies  partly  in  propor- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  73 

tion  to  the  estimated  value  of  the  land,  and  hence  the 
price  of  rent  is  from  one  dollar  and  less  to  two,  three 
and  sometimes  four  dollars  per  acre.  Rent  is  also  paid 
in  produce  at  the  rate  of  one-fourth  of  the  cotton  and 
one-third  of  the  corn  grown  on  the  land.  According  to 
the  quality  of  the  land,  the  product  will  vary  from  two 
to  six  bales  per  hand,  but  the  average  for  good  land  is 
about  three  to  four  bales  per  hand,  occasionally  six  to 
ten  bales  per  mule,  allowing  one  mule  to  two  hands. 

In  region  I.  credits  to  the  value  of  one-half  the  labor- 
er's crop  is  often  made  by  the  land-owner;  in  region  II. 
credits  are  given  largely  in  a few  localities,  but  not  as 
much  as  formerly;  in  region  III.  credits  have  only  re- 
cently been  asked  and  granted;  in  regions  IV.,  V.,  VI. 
and  VII.  credits  are  almost  universal  and  regularly  con- 
sume the  entire  crop  of  the  laborer.  As  a rule,  the 
crop  is  not  insured  till  shipped  or  placed  in  the  ware- 
house for  shipment.  In  a few  cases  cotton  is  insured 
when  baled,  and  in  some  parts  of  Bullock  county  gin- 
houses  and  cotton  are  insured  as  soon  as  picking  begins. 
Cotton  is  always  insured  when  shipped  unless  forbidden 
by  owner. 

Temperature . Extremes  of  temperature  are  compar- 
atively rare,  and  the  extremes  of  heat  during  summer 
months  are  especially  moderated  by  the  tempering 
winds  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  In  those  parts  of  the 
State  most  remote  from  the  Gulf  their  elevation  above 
sea-level  secures  immunity  from  excessive  heat.  The 
mean  annual  temperature  of  the  State  is  about  64.58°  f. 

The  means  for  the  seasons  are  as  follows : spring, 
63.9°;  summer,  79. 50;  autumn,  64.5°;  winter,  50.4°. 

The  maxima  and  minima  of  temperature  fall  almost 
without  exception  in  the  months  of  July  and  January 
respectively. 


74 


Proceedings  of  the 

In  the  latitude  of  Montgomery  the  last  frost  occurs, 
as  a rule,  between  the  5th  and  the  25th  of  April. 

The  first  frosts  occur  usually  between  the  10th  and 
25th  of  October. 

The  average  rainfall  of  the  State  is  55.04  inches,  and 
of  this  13.86  inches  fall  during  the  spring  months,  14.07 
during  the  summer,  14.70  during  the  autumn  and  16.37 
during  the  winter. 


Southei'n  Immigration  Association . 


75 


THE  RESOURCES  OF  ARKANSAS. 


ADDRESS  BY  THE  HON.  THOS.  ESSEX,  OF  LITTLE  ROCK,  ARK. 


Mr.  President:  A theme  so  vast  in  its  proportions,  so 
comprehensive  in  its  details,  so  boundless  in  its  extent, 
one  attempting  to  present  it  scarcely  knows  where  to 
begin,  how  to  proceed,  or  at  what  point  to  leave  it.  So 
deeply  impressed  is  the  present  speaker  with  this  fact 
that  it  seems  to  his  mind  to  somewhat  resemble  eternity 
itself — “ without  beginning  and  without  end.”  A theme 
requiring  volumes  for  its  proper  presentation  can  hardly 
be  even  lightly  touched,  here  and  there,  in  a few  allotted 
moments  of  time.  The  resources  of  Arkansas!  They 
extend  upward  from  the  fertile  soil  of  her  hills  and  val- 
leys and  downward  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth  com- 
prising her  territory,  where  repose,  in  almost  undis- 
turbed slumber,  vast  deposits  of  minerals  in  great  variety 
of  kind  and  character.  And  there  they  have  quietly 
rested  in  those  grand  old  chambers  of  Nature’s  repos- 
itory for  ages  past.  These  resources  not  only  extend 
upward  and  downward,  but  are  spread  out  over  the  mil- 
lions of  acres  of  her  great  variety  of  valuable  timbers, 
her  thousands  of  miles  of  navigable  rivers — Nature’s 
own  lines  of  transportation — and  the  whole  broad  sur- 
face of  her  lowland  and  upland,  which  needs  but  the 
thrifty  and  well-directed  labor  of  the  husbandman,  aided 
by  improved  machinery,  to  cause  it  to  yield  rich  and 
abundant  harvests  in  the  field  of  agriculture  and  horti- 
culture. More  than  all  this  they  reach  out  far  beyond 
the  imaginary  lines  which  define  her  geographical  posi- 


76 


Proceedings  of  the 

tion  away  to  the  north,  and  the  east,  and  the  south,  and 
through  those  great  commercial  arteries,  the  rivers  and 
the  lakes  and  the  railroads,  lay  hold  upon  remunerative 
markets  for  these  products  of  forest  and  stream,  of  mine, 
field  and  factory. 

You  will  perceive  that  first  among  the  many  resources 
of  Arkansas  is  placed  its 

CLIMATE. 

Though  a country  abound  in  the  richest  of  fertile  soil 
and  possess  other  advantages  equally  superior,  yet,  if 
for  three  or  four  months  of  the  twelve  the  mercury  drops 
so  low  as  to  render  existence  almost  intolerable,  to  ne- 
cessitate incessant  and  exhaustive  toil  for  six  months  of 
the  year  to  sustain  life  in  man  and  beast  the  remaining 
six — to  absolutely  forbid  the  production  of  many  of  the 
luxuries  and  the  enjoyment  of  many  of  the  pleasures  of 
life — certainly,  so  far  from  being  sought  after,  it  is  to  be 
avoided,  so  long  as  another  country  is  to  be  found  with 
a more  genial  clime  and  possessing  equal  advantages  in 
other  respects.  The  territory  of  Arkansas  being  situ- 
ated between  the  thirty-third  and  thirty-seventh  parallel 
of  latitude  and  extending  over  a space  of  about  240 
miles  from  north  to  south,  we  find  there  all  the  climatic 
characteristics  of  ten  degrees  of  latitude.  So  that  in 
the  southern  portion  of  the  State  some  varieties  of  semi- 
tropical  plants  and  fruits  can  be  produced,  while  the 
staples  of  the  South  reach  a luxurious  growth.  Pro- 
ceeding northward  we  discover  that  very  nearly  every 
variety  of  the  leading  staples  of  the  North  can  be  grown 
with  profit.  Thus  avoiding  the  extremes  of  North  and 
South,  Arkansas  strikes  a happy  medium,  securing  a 
climatic  status  which,  with  her  fertile  soils,  varied  sur- 
face of  hill  and  dale,  timber  and  prairie;  her  numerous 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  77 

streams ; her  abundant  springs  of  pure  and  lasting 
waters;  her,  now,  nearly  2,000  miles  of  railroads,  span- 
ning her  territory  in  all  directions  from  north  to  south, 
from  east  to  west — render  her  unsurpassed,  if  not  un- 
equaled, by  any  other  State  for  a variety  of  valuable  re- 
sources. Of  necessity,  then,  Arkansas  possesses  short, 
mild  winters,  rendering  it  possible  to  keep  and  sustain 
both  man  and  beast  at  very  much  less  cost  than  in  many 
sections  of  our  common  country  where  the  rigor  of  ex- 
treme long  winters  are  a yearly  occurrence.  The  sum- 
mers, though  long,  are  not  so  replete  with  extreme  heat 
as  the  prevalent  idea  among  our  fellow-citizens  of  our 
sister  States  of  the  North  would  lead  one  to  suppose. 
Indeed,  as  a rule,  only  the  month  of  July  is  productive 
of  oppressive  warmth,  and  even  then  the  mercury  does 
not  soar  so  high  as  it  does  in  some  of  our  cities,  even  so 
far  north  as  Chicago  and  St.  Paul. 

Passing  from  the  climatic  advantages  possessed  by  the 
State  of  Arkansas,  we  come  to  its  physical  conformation 
as  an  important  feature  entering  into  the  composition  of 
its  vast  and  varied  resources.  Here  your  speaker  asks 
leave  to  quote  from  the  pen  of  one  who  has  studied  the  re- 
sources of  Arkansas  practically  as  well  as  theoretically  for 
a period  of  eight  years  just  past — Prof.  W.  S.  Thomas, 
connected  with  the  Land  Department  of  the  St.  Louis, 
Iron  Mountain  & Southern  railway,  and  successfully  di- 
recting the  operations  of  a fine  farm  of  his  own  in  Sa- 
line county,  about  fourteen  miles  from  Little  Rock.  He 
rather  takes  pride  in  declaring  that  he  has  never  suffered 
a pound  of  cotton  to  be  raised  on  the  place,  and  that  he 
has  satisfactorily  and  emphatically  demonstrated  that 
Arkansas  is  capable  of  producing  products  other  than 
cotton.  In  quoting  from  his  terse  and  ready  pen  the 
subjects  of  timber,  stock-raising,  field  crops  and  fruit 


78 


Proceedings  of  the 

will  be  touched  upon  in  so  much  briefer  space  and  yet 
so  much  more  comprehensive  manner  than  is  possible 
with  your  humble  speaker  that  he  feels  assured  of  a 
greater  saving  of  your  time  and  less  tresspass  on  your 
patience.  Please  bear  in  mind  that  the  remarks  quoted 
were  written  and  expressed  by  him  in  March,  1880. 
Touching  upon  the 

PHYSICAL  CONFORMATION 

of  Arkansas,  he  says  : 

44  So  varied  and  extensive  is  the  soil  and  its  products, 
that  with  but  few  exceptions  all  the  ‘cereals,’  plants 
and  fruits  known  to  American  husbandmen  may  be  pro- 
duced within  the  limits  of  this  State.  The  eastern  part 
of  Arkansas,  bordering  on  the  Mississippi,  includes  a 
broad,  alluvial  belt,  from  thirty  to  one  hundred  miles  in 
width  ; the  lands  being  low,  level  and  at  times  subject 
to  inundation  in  many  places.  The  soil  is  of  the  high- 
est fertility,  and  the  surface  is  covered  with  dense  forest, 
intersected  by  swamps,  lakes  and  lagoons,  and  much 
prime  land.  By  a thorough  levee  and  drainage  system 
it  is  believed  that  nearly  the  whole  of  this  vast  body  of 
rich  alluvial  soil  may  be  reclaimed,  and  thereby  rendered 
one  of  the  finest  agricultural  regions  in  the  great  Mis- 
sissippi Valley. 

“The  valley  of  the  Arkansas  River  extends  diagonally 
across  the  central  portion  of  the  State,  from  northwest 
%to  southeast.  This  stream,  the  largest  in  the  State  and 
next  to  Missouri  in  importance  as  a tributary  of  the 
Mississippi,  is  navigable  throughout  the  State,  a distance 
of  590  miles.  Red  River  waters  the  extreme  south- 
western part  of  the  State,  which  is  a rich  agricultural 
and  grazing  region.  This  valley  is  part  of  the  great 
cotton-growing  country  of  the  southwest,  and  is  also 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  79 

well  adapted  to  the  culture  of  sugar  cane.  The  Ouachita 
River  waters  the  whole  region  south  of  the  Arkansas 
and  between  the  latter  stream  and  the  Red  River.  It 
rises  in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  flows  first  east 
and  thence  west,  and  again  southeast.  It  is  navigable 
for  340  miles.  The  principal  affluents  of  the  Ouachita 
are  the  Moro,  Saline,  Little  Missouri,  Sabine,  Bayou 
Boeuf  and  Bayou  Bartholomew  ; White  River,  which 
rises  in  Arkansas,  and  with  its  numerous  tributaries, 
waters  the  whole  northern  part  of  the  State,  and  that 
part  of  the  eastern  section  between  the  valleys  of  St. 
Francis  and  Arkansas  Rivers.  The  bottom  lands  along 
the  stream  and  its  tributaries  are  subject  to  overflow  in 
some  localities,  but  the  soil  is  of  great  fertility.  The 
alluvions  on  White  River  are  equal  in  area  to  those  on 
the  Mississippi  in  this  State,  and  they  are  fully  as  valua- 
ble and  less  liable  to  inundation. 

“The  St.  Francis,  which  forms  part  of  the  boundary, 
rises  in  the  high  lands  of  Missouri,  and  empties  into  the 
Mississippi  ten  miles  north  of  Helena.  It  is  almost  450 
miles  long,  and  at  certain  seasons  navigable  for  150 
miles.  This  State  has  nearly  3,900  miles  of  navigable 
waters.  In  passing  westward  from  the  eastern  border 
of  Arkansas,  the  surface  becomes  more  elevated,  rising 
gradually.  Near,  the  center  of  the  State,  west  of  the 
line  of  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  & Southern  railway, 
the  country  becomes  rolling  and  hilly,  while  the  vast 
forests  are  interspersed  with  undulating  prairies.  These 
uplands  in  their  western  expansion  terminate  in  the 
Ozark  and  Masserne  Mountains.  The  Ozark  range  is 
first  distingnished  near  Little  Rock,  north  of  the  Arkan- 
sas River,  extending  in  a northwesterly  direction,  be- 
yond the  limits  of  the  State.  The  Masserne  Mountains 
lie  south  of  the  Arkansas.  The  country  north  of  the 


80  Proceedings  of  the 

Ozark  is  a beautiful  intermixture  of  hills,  plains,  prairies 
and  woodland.  It  is  well  watered  and  generally  very 
fertile.  The  district  south  of  the  Washita  Mountains, 
for  a considerable  distance,  is  divided  into  a series  of 
ridges  and  valleys,  interrupted  by  various  small  streams 
rising  in  the  mountains.  These  streams  afford  superior 
water  power  for  manufacturing  purposes,  while  the  lands 
are  of  great  value  as  a stock-growing  region.  South  of 
these  hills  is  a large  tract  of  country,  extending  to  the 
south  boundary  of  the  State,  and  nearly  across  from 
east  to  west,  varied  in  surface  and  soil,  but  generally 
undulating  and  interspersed  with  pine  forests.  Large 
portions  of  these  lands  are  exceedingly  fertile,  particu- 
larly the  black  soils  of  the  southwest  part  of  the  State. 
The  alluvions  of  all  the  streams,  which  embrace  a large 
area  of  the  State,  are  of  the  highest  fertility.  The  dis- 
position of  the  arable  lands  in  Arkansas  is  eminently 
favorable  to  its  development.  The  great  variety  of 
soils,  the  succession  of  hills  and  valleys,  the  prevalence 
of  springs,  creeks  and  rivers  in  every  section,  are  cir- 
cumstances which  tend  to  produce  a diffusion  of  advan- 
tages rendering  every  district  in  the  State  desirable  for 
settlement. 

TIMBERS. 

“ From  what  has  been  said  respecting  the  char- 
acter of  the  country,  its  soil,  surface  and  climate,  it 
is  apparent  that  there  is  in  Arkansas  but  a limited 
extent  to  barrens,  deserts  or  irreclaimable  swamp  lands. 
Arkansas  abounds  in  valuable  timber  in  all  parts.  She 
has  more  variety  of  timber  useful  for  various  mechanical 
purposes  than  all  the  New  England  States  combined, 
having  over  seventy  kinds.  The  yellow  pine  forests 
predominate  south  of  the  Arkansas  River,  covering 
about  one-fourth  the  area  of  the  State,  and  interspersed 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  81 

with  a very  large  variety  of  other  valuable  timber.  The 
pine,  which  attains  great  size,  is  abundant  and  valuable. 
Several  varieties  of  oak  abound  both  on  the  rich  allu- 
vions and  on  the  uplands.  Some  of  these  species  attain 
large  proportions,  and  are  valuable  for  ship  building, 
and  are  now  extensively  exported  to  England  for  that 
purpose,  being  pronounced  the  finest  timber  ever  put 
on  the  Liverpool  docks.  In  the  southern  part  of  the 
State  there  are  extensive  forests  of  bald  cypress  of 
immense  size,  and  nearly  as  desirable  as  red  cedar,  all 
found  in  great  abundance  on  the  rich  alluvions  ; also 
the  tupelo  gum,  which  is  a valuable  tree  for  many 
economic  purposes.  Cabinet  woods  occur  in  abun- 
dance, of  which  the  black  walnut,  wild  cherry  and  maple 
are  the  most  valuable.  Among  the  numerous  hard 
woods  growing  in  the  State  are  black  locust,  sassafras, 
red  mulberry  and  bois  d’arc,  or  osage  orange.  The 
latter,  which  is  used  for  hedges  in  the  Northern  States, 
grows  luxuriantly  in  the  valley  of  the  Red  River,  often 
attaining  four  feet  in  diameter.  Beside,  there  are  the 
hickory,  ash,  maple,  gum,  pecan,  sycamore,  elm,  cotton- 
wood, cedar,  buttonwood  and  hackberry.  In  addition 
to  the  foregoing,  many  species  of  trees  abound  here, 
valuable  as  ornamental  shade  trees  or  evergreens,  such 
as  the  holly,  willow,  catalpa,  china-tree,  box-elder,  but- 
ternut, palmetto,  dogwood,  plum,  horn-beam,  ironwood, 
mocker-nut,  juniper,  honey-locust  and  laurel.  While 
Northern  and  Western  States  are  seeking  aid  from  the 
general  government,  by  way  of  donations  and  legisla- 
tion for  the  encouragement  of  tree  planting,  to  supply 
a demand  for  lumber  every  year  growing  more  and 
more  pressing,  and  which  must  continue  to  increase  till 
reboisment  is  accomplished  by  the  growth  of  the  cen- 


6 


82 


Proceedings  of  the 

tury,  Arkansas  has  within  her  boundaries  the  largest 
and  best  variety  of  useful  timbers  in  the  United  States, 
if  not  on  the  globe,  and  possesses  unsurpassed  facilities 
for  the  transportation  of  the  same  to  the  great  markets 
of  the  world. 

“ With  the  Mississippi  River  on  her  eastern  border, 
and  five  navigable  rivers  flowing  from  the  western  to 
her  eastern  confines,  she  has  more  miles  of  water  com- 
munication, and  with  a more  equal  division  of  territory, 
than  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  The  St.  Louis,  Iron 
Mountain  & Southern  railway,  passes  from  the  north- 
east to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  State,  and  crosses 
all  the  navigable  rivers  at  right  angles,  skirting  the 
foot-hills  of  the  Boston  and  Ozark  Mountains.” 

Your  speaker  adds  the  Little  Rock  and  Fort  Smith, 
with  the  Little  Rock,  Mississippi  and  Texas  road  ex- 
tending from  Fort  Smith  to  the  Mississippi  River  at 
Arkansas  City.  The  Memphis  and  Little  Rock  road 
reaching  from  Little  Rock  to  the  same  great  “ Father  of 
Waters  ” at  Hopefield,  immediately  opposite  the  city  of 
Memphis,  the  pride  of  the  great  State  within  whose 
magnificent  capitol  you  are  now  assembled  to  inaugu- 
rate an  enterprise  destined  in  coming  years  to  fully  de- 
velop not  only  the  resources  of  Arkansas,  but  those  of 
her  sister  States  of  the  South  and  Southwest,  a branch 
of  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  & Southern  railroad 
tapping  that  same  grand  old  stream  at  Helena,  the 
Texas  and  St.  Louis  railroad  running  the  entire  length 
of  the  State  to  Cairo,  and  other  railroads  traversing  her 
territory,  give  unusual  facilities  for  the  shipment  of  lum- 
ber of  all  kinds,  such  as  are  common  to  both  low  lands 
and  upland,  placing  within  reach  all  the  timber  charac- 
teristic of  ten  degrees  of  latitude.  What  Arkansas 
needs  most  at  present,  in  order  to  receive  the  greatest 


Southern  Immigration  Association,  83 

benefit  from  her  native  forests,  is  the  erection  and  ope- 
ration of  such  manufactories  as  will  fit  her  timbers  for 
the  use  of  consumers  before  transportation.  With  such 
in  operation,  making  and  finding  a home  market,  an 
important  element  would  be  added  to  the  prosperity  of 
her  people. 

STOCK-RAISING. 

“ Few  States  are  better  adapted  for  grass-growing 
and  raising  all  kinds  of  stock.  Besides  grasses,  we 
raise  a great  variety  of  forage  crops  of  high  value  as 
flesh  and  butter  producers.  With  the  scant  care  its 
native  stock  has  always  received,  it  still  has  points  that 
recommend  it  as  a good  basis  for  breeding  up.  As  a 
rule  the  quantity  of  milk  given  by  each  cow  is  small  but 
very  rich,  and  both  quantity  and  quality  are  quickly  in- 
creased by  generous  feeding.  On  making  inquiries  of 
a Northern  lady  reared  in  one  of  the  finest  dairying  re- 
gions of  New  York,  she  gave  me  the  following : 

From  fifteen  quarts  of  milk  I make  three  and  one- 
fourth  pounds  of  butter.  Of  course  we  have  no  ice  to 
harden  butter,  but  notwithstanding,  I have  never  yet 
seen  oily,  melting  butter,  or  any  too  soft  to  keep  its 
shape  when  the  thermometer  was  among  the  nineties. 
With  the  same  care  given  to  the  cows  and  their  milk, 
as  delicious  butter  can  be  made  in  Arkansas  as  in  any 
part  of  the  United  States,  and  through  a greater  por- 
tion of  the  year,  as  the  season  of  green  feed  is  so  much 
longer,  and  during  the  short  winters,  fodder  of  the  cow, 
or  southern  pea,  gives  butter  of  superior  flavor  and  color.’ 

“ Cotton-seed  is  more  extensively  fed,  but  while  it 
increases  the  flow  and  richness  of  the  milk,  cannot  be 
used  to  any  amount  without  making  the  butter  white, 
and  having  a tallowy  feeling  (not  taste)  in  the  mouth 
after  eating  it.  The  meal,  which  is  .the  product  of  cot- 


84 


Proceedings  of  the 

ton-seed  oil  mills  (the  largest  one  in  the  world  is  in  Lit- 
tle Rock),  is  exported  in  great  quantities  to  England 
and  Scotland,  and  to  the  Eastern  States  for  cattle  food. 
It  is  unsurpassed  in  value  by  any  other  form  of  concen- 
trated food,  not  excepting  linseed  oil  cake. 

“ Probably  there  is  no  error  so  universally  diffused 
through  the  North  as  the  one  that  forage  plants  and  the 
grasses  cannot  be  grown  in  Arkansas,  and  no  doubt  it 
may  seem  a rash  statement  when  I assert  that  no  coun- 
try in  the  world,  except,  perhaps,  England,  Ireland,  or 
those  similarly  situated,  is  better  adapted  to  the  pro- 
duction of  forage  plants  and  grasses.  There  is  not  the 
least  question  but  that  cultivated  grasses  will  grow  in 
every  part  of  Arkansas.  I have  seen  fields  of  timothy, 
red-top  and  red  clover  growing  from  the  northern  to  the 
southern  part  of  the  State,  and  never  have  seen  the 
same  grasses  present  a more  favorable  appearance  in 
any  of  the  Northern  States. 

“I  have  now  growing  on  my  farm,  in  Saline  county, 
orchard  grass,  blue  grass,  red  and  white  clover,  all  of 
which  I would  be  willing  to  compare  with  any  of  the 
grass  lands  of  Ohio. 

“ I have  taken  great  pains  to  collect  facts,  and  intend 
to  give  only  such  statements  as  I know  to  be  true  from 
personal  knowledge,  or  from  gentlemen  who  are  per- 
fectly reliable. 

“ We  have  in  our  State  155  native  grasses,  which 
were  catalogued  by  Leo  Lesqueneux  over  twenty  years 
ago,  and  he  expressed  the  opinion  that  there  were  many 
more  which  did  not  come  under  his  observation.  The 
value  of  but  few  of  these  indigenous  grasses  is  known, 
and  we  have  much  to  learn  in  regard  to  them.  It  is 
important  to  the  State  that  we  raise  our  own  horses, 
mules,  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  and  produce  our  own 


Southern  Immigratio?i  Association.  85 

butter  and  cheese.  When  we  do,  no  people  in  the 
world  will  be  more  independent  than  those  who  live  in 
Arkansas. 

FIELD  CROPS. 

“ The  great  fertility  of  the  soil  is  evinced  by  the  luxu- 
riant crops  produced  throughout  the  State.  Cotton  is 
the  great  staple,  and  forms  the  basis  of  agricultural 
wealth  in  Arkansas.  She  is  the  first  cotton  State  in 
the  Union  as  to  quality,  and  second  as  to  quantity ; and 
if  we  count  by  square  miles,  she  is  the  first.  Texas, 
only,  stands  ahead.  Corn  is  produced  in  all  soils,  and 
in  every  section  of  the  State,  yielding  an  abundant 
return,  and  rarely  fails.  Wheat  is  also  cultivated  in  all 
parts  of  the  State,  and  fine  crops  are  produced.  Tobacco 
is  raised  throughout  the  State  for  home  supply,  and  only 
in  portions  has  been  made  a market  crop,  but  from  expe- 
riments made  by  those  who  formerly  cultivated  the 
plant  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  it  is  pro- 
nounced for  the  manufacture  of  cigars  equal  to  that  of 
Pennsylvania  or  the  Connecticut  Valley. 

“ Oats  and  barley  succeed  in  all  parts  of  the  State, 
yielding  abundant  crops.  These,  however,  have  here- 
tofore been  generally  produced  for  domestic  use,  and 
not  for  market.  Buckwheat  yields  abundantly,  but  is 
raised  only  for  home  demand.  All  kinds  of  root 
crops  produced  in  the  temperate  zone  succeed  in  this 
State. 

‘‘As  to  the  money  value  of  farm  crops  per  acre,  in 
comparison  with  other  States,  I will  give  a few  statistics 
from  the  United  States  Agricultural  Report.  I copy 
from  the  report  of  the  statistician. 


86 


Proceedings  of  the 


Corn. 

Rye. 

Oats. 

Potatoes. 

Hay. 

Illinois 

$6  77 
8 86 

$6  64 

$6  46 
5 92 

$30  32 
30  08 

$7  66 
7 66 
9 85 
5 89 

Indiana 

7 30 

Ohio 

11  52 

9 08 

7 90 

34  48 

Kansas 

6 44 

5 98 

6 12 

37  40 

Virginia 

7 52 

5 16 

5 34 

43  50 

17  30 

Tennessee 

7 91 

7 32 

5 73 

28  08 

14  95 

Arkansas 

11  51 

9 51 

11  07 

78  65 

22  94 

“ The  following  is  the  average  cash  value  per  acre  on 
all  crops  taken  together : 


Illinois $ 7 68 

Indiana 9 85 

Ohio 12  08 

Kansas 7 85 


Virginia .1  8 82 

Tennessee 9 80 

Iowa 5 80 

Arkansas 15  68 


THE  FRUIT. 


“It  is  said  by  those  well  qualified  to  judge,  that 
Arkansas  will  soon  be  one  of  the  most  noted  fruit 
regions  of  the  United  States  ; that  she  is  to  be  the  gar- 
den from  which  all  the  Northwestern  cities  must  draw 
early  fruit,  and  there  is  probably  no  branch  of  industry 
that  will  pay  the  farmer  better.  As  an  instance,  Mr. 
Wheaton,  of  Judsonia,  netted,  above  expenses,  $1,129 
on  the  product  of  2^  acres  of  strawberries,  while  Mr. 
S.  M.  Talkington,  of  Searcy,  reports  that  though  his 
peach  orchard  is  young,  the  oldest  not  over  four  years, 
yet  on  the  average  they  netted  him  $6  per  tree,  though, 
he  also  says,  it  is  not  safe  to  reckon  on  more  than  $3 
per  tree.  As,  therefore,  200  of  these  trees  can  be 
grown  on  an  acre,  $600  can  be  made  by  this  small 
orchard,  which  is  a far  better  investment  than  in  many 
of  the  so-called  staple  crops.  Very  little  attention  has 
been  paid  to  raising  established  varieties,  as  not  till 
within  the  last  five  years,  on  the  completion  of  the  Iron 
Mountain  road,  has  there  been  a market  for  our  fruit. 
The  trees  begin  to  bear  three  or  four  years  from  seed, 
and  the  universal  excellence  of  the  fruit  shows  the  coun- 
try to  be  peculiarly  suited  to  peach  culture.  Orchards 
remain  in  good  bearing  condition  for  a much  longer 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  87 

term  of  years  than  in  those  States  north,  where  the 
peach  has  been  better  cultivated.  Some  trees  that 
yielded  a good  crop  this  and  last  seasons,  are  known  to 
be  nearly  twenty  years  old,  and  yet  they  look  as  clean 
and  healthy  as  three-year-old  trees  in  Delaware.  The 
varieties  of  fruit  that  may  be  successfully  cultivated  here 
include  species  grown  in  Northern  localities,  as  well  as 
those  which  nearly  approach  the  tropics.  Apples,  pears, 
quince,  peaches,  plums,  grapes,  apricots,  nectarines, 
strawberries  and  the  other  small  fruits,  growing  luxu- 
riantly in  all  parts  of  the  State,  while  the  fig  and  some 
other  semi-tropical  fruits  may  be  found  yielding  well,  in 
favorable  seasons  and  localities. 

MINERALS. 

“The  minerals  of  Arkansas  are  wonderful  in  extent 
and  variety,  but  almost  nothing  has  been  done  to 
develop  them.  Entering  the  State  on  the  north  over 
the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  & Southern  railway,  you 
first  pass  into  Clay  county,  celebrated  for  its  timber, 
but  possessing  little  or  no  mineral  wealth,  though  in 
Randolph,  lying  a few  miles  west,  lithographic  stone  is 
found,  said  by  good  judges  to  be  equal  to  any  in  use. 
This  county  also  contains  manganese  and  iron  ore,  and 
in  the  adjoining  county  of  Newton  are  large  quantities 
of  marble. 

“ South  of  Randolph,  Lawrence  county  is  noted  for 
its  large  and  valuable  deposits  of  zinc,  both  sulphuret 
and  carbonate.  There  is  also  in  abundance  fine  deposits 
of  iron  ore  of  the  limonite  variety.  Lead  and  baryta 
have  also  been  found,  while  near  Powhattan,  the  county 
site,  the  finest  kaolin,  or  china  clay,  has  recently  been 
discovered  that  I have  ever  seen. 

“ Pulaski  county  has  within  her  boundaries  the  cele- 


88 


Proceedings  of  the 

brated  Kellogg  .argentiferous  galena  mine.  It  also  con- 
tains fine  deposits  of  kaolin  and  quartz,  with  feldspatic 
synenite,  making  Little  Rock,  which  has  other  required 
materials  in  close  proximity,  the  most  desirable  point 
in  the  United  States  for  the  manufacture  of  white  crock- 
ery-ware. She  also  possesses  peculiar  advantages  for 
the  establishment  of  glass-works. 

“ Saline  county  gives  lime  of  the  best  quality,  lead, 
iron,  lignite  coal,  stone-ware,  clay,  steatite,  slate,  graph- 
ite and  other  valuable  minerals. 

“ At  the  famous  Magnet  Cove,  in  Hot  Springs  county, 
is  a wonderful  deposit  of  magnetic  iron  ore,  polarity 
strongly  developed,  and  by  analysis  going  over  80  per 
cent,  of  pure  iron.  The  locality  seems  inexhaustible, 
but  with  her  novaculite,  feldspar,  etc.,  has  received  little 
attention. 

“ Clark  county  has  a very  fine  deposit  of  kaolin  and 
other  valuable  minerals,  and  salt  was  manufactured 
there  in  ante-bellum  days. 

“ Large  beds  of  gypsum  exist  in  Pike  county,  rivaling 
in  purity  and  beauty  the  alabaster  of  foreign  lands.” 

In  addition  to  the  remarks  quoted  from  Prof.  Thomas, 
on  the  subject  of  minerals,  it  is  known  that  in  at  least 
two  localities  in  the  State  there  exists  deposits  of  man- 
ganese, so  essential  to  the  manufacture  of  steel,  of  the 
finest  quality  and  abundant  quantity.  In  the  south- 
western portion  of  the  State  are  large  deposits  of  that 
rare  and  valuable  mineral — antimony — some  of  it  hav- 
ing been  already  mined,  hauled  sixty  miles  to  a station 
on  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  & Southern  railway, 
and  shipped  to  foreign  ports  for  purpose  of  manu- 
facture. Quarries  of  the  novaculite  near  Hot  Springs 
have  been,  and  are  now  being  worked,  producing  an 
oil-stone  which  is  acknowledged  to  have  no  superior 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  89 

throughout  the  world.  Numbers  of  establishments  are 
engaged  in  turning  the  potter’s  clay  into  earthen-ware, 
but  specimens  of  rockinham  and  yellow  ware,  made  at 
Cincinnati  from  specimens  of  this  clay,  sent  there  for 
that  purpose,  demonstrates  that  it  is  susceptible  of  a 
much  higher  and  more  valuable  use.  Specimens  of 
white  ware,  manufactured  at  the  same  establishment  in 
Cincinnati,  from  the  kaolin,  shows  that  Arkansas  pos- 
sesses the  material  for  manufacture  of  articles  of  this 
character  unsurpassed  by  any  locality  beneath  the  sun. 

Such,  sir,  is  an  imperfectly  pictured  panorama  of  the 
resources  of  Arkansas,  rapidly  revolved.  It  is  hoped 
that  sufficient  glimpses  of  its  greatness  and  its  grandeur, 
to  justify  the  assertion  of  a few  moments  ago,  that  for  a 
variety  of  valuable  resources,  she  stands  at  this  period 
of  time  unrivaled  by  any  of  her  sister  States.  And  yet, 
sir,  scarcely  more  than  the  tenth  part  of  a century  ago, 
to  our  own  people  of  the  great  North  and  Northwest, 
she  was,  as  it  were,  a nothing — a mere  barren — blank 
space — spoken  or  thought  of  but  rarely,  except  through 
the  columns  of  some  “ Southern  outrage  ” sheet,  delud- 
ing the  masses  of  that  people  into  the  belief  that  it  was 
scarce  more  than  a howling  wilderness,  fit  only  for  the 
habitation  of  knights  of  the  rifle,  the  revolver  and  the — - 
“toothpick.”  To-day,  thank  God — and  the  enterprise, 
accompanied  by  brain,  capital  and  muscle,  which  pene- 
trated into  and  through  her  territory — she  compelled 
not  only  the  recognition,  but  the  admiration  of  these 
same  people,  so  soon  as  they  could  mount  the  iron- 
horse  and  speed  their  way  into  that  land  of  such  wo7ider- 
ful possibilities , behold  for  themselves  its  almost  fabu- 
lous extent  and  variety  of  resources,  and,  mingling  with 
its  people,  ascertain  and  know,  from  their  own  sense  of 
seeing,  hearing  and  feeling,  that,  so  far  from  being  a 


90 


Proceedings  of  the 

horned  and  hoofed  race  of  beings,  they  were  a warm, 
generous-hearted  people — standing  ready  to  welcome 
all  who  came,  with  honest  purpose,  to  become  peaceable 
and  law-abiding  citizens  of  a State  well-fitted  and  emi- 
nently worthy  to  be  made  the  home  of  the  highest  and 
proudest  within  their  ranks.  Sir,  ever  since  the  dawn 
of  that  era,  they  have  been  coming,  and  coming  to  stay. 
Coming  from  Illinois,  from  Ohio,  from  Pennsylvania, 
from  New  Jersey,  from  New  York,  from  Iowa,  from 
Michigan,  from  Kansas,  from  Canada — coming  from 
even  my  own  native  State,  Missouri.  In  the  language 
of  our  own  Patrick,  of  Revolutionary  renown,  I say,  Let 
them  come  ! 

With,  perhaps,  the  exception  of  a few  of  the  happy- 
go-luck-don’t-care-a-continental  sort  of  a class — the  rifle- 
and-dorg-sort — who  would  everlastingly  pour  out  the 
vials  of  their  wrath  upon  the  unfortunate  head  of  a mem- 
ber of  a Legislature  if  he  dared  to  express  his  belief  that 
a valuable  sheep  is  more  to  be  desired  than  a worthless 
“dorg” — with  the  exception  of  that  class,  our  people 
all  say,  Let  them  come  ! And,  the  more  capital,  brains 
and  muscle  they  bring  with  them  to  develop  those  great 
resources,  the  more  welcome  they  will  be. 

Sir,  Arkansas  has  an  area  of  30,353,197  acres  of  ter- 
ritory. According  to  the  latest  United  States  census, 
only  3,595,603  acres  were,  at  that  time,  in  cultivation. 
In  1870,  she  had  a population  of  484,471  souls.  In 
1880,  she  numbered  802,525.  To-day,  not  less  than 
1,000,000.  In  1850,  she  raised  31,038,400  pounds  of 
cotton.  In  1882,  she  turned  into  the  markets  of  the 
world  315,100,000  pounds.  In  1850,  she  raised  8,893,- 
939  bushels  of  corn.  In  1882,  from  the  small  percentage 
of  her  soil,  planted  in  that  grain,  34,485,900  bushels 
were  gathered.  In  1850,  656,183  bushels  of  oats,  while 


9i 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

in  1882  the  volume  swells  to  3,131,500  bushels.  In 
1850,  she  had  all  her  rivers  of  to-day,  but  not  one  mile 
of  railroad.  In  1882,  she  had  a little  over  1,000  miles 
of  railroad.  Now,  sir,  in  addition  to  all  that  has  been 
said,  let  me  add,  that  Arkansas  extends  an  invitation 
to  the  people  of  all  tongues  and  climes  to  come  to  her 
many  pure  springs,  sending  forth  health-restoring  and 
life-prolonging  waters.  Thousands  of  persons,  after 
enduring  untold  suffering  from  varied  diseases  for 
months  and  years,  and  trying  various  so-called  reme- 
dies in  shape  of  drugs,  have  come  to  Arkansas,  and  to 
their  surprise  and  infinite  joy,  found  relief  in  a compara- 
tively short  period  of  time,  and  returned  home  rejoicing, 
bearers  of  glad  tidings  to  friends  and  relatives. 

The  resources  of  Arkansas  ! One  can  scarcely  refrain 
from  adding,  “ and  their  development,”  so  closely  allied 
are  they,  one  to  the  other.  The  resources  of  our  dear 
Southland  ! How  vast,  how  extensive,  how  varied  they 
are.  Their  development ! How  is  that  to  be  accom- 
plished ? That  is  the  question  of  the  hour.  The  answer 
to  that  is  simple.  By  the  bringing  in  of  capital,  muscle, 
and  intelligent,  enlightened,  skilled  labor  to  lay  hold  of 
the  crude  material  of  these  resources  and  bring  them 
out  and  make  them  sources  of  light,  and  strength,  and 
power,  and  wealth.  How  to  get  that  sort  of  capital, 
muscle  and  labor ! That  is  the  problem  for  you  to 
solve.  We  stand  at  the  dawn  of  a new  era.  Nay,  the 
dawn  appeared  some  years  ago — a gray,  misty  dawn, 
perhaps.  May  it  be  the  proud  fortune  of  this  infant 
association  of  to-day,  with  a firm,  steady,  intelligent 
hand,  to  sweep  away  that  mist,  so  that,  erelong,  the  full 
splendor  of  that  full-orbed  sun  of  prosperity,  for  which 
nature  has  so  eminently  fitted  her,  may  burst  upon  her, 
bringing  joy  and  comfort  to  her  sons  and  daughters, 


92 


Proceedings  of  the 

and  commanding  not  only  the  admiration,  but  the 
hearty  good-will,  not  only  of  all  the  people  of  this 
nation,  but  of  the  entire  globe. 

Persons  desiring  information  regarding  lands,  climate, 
etc.,  of  Arkansas,  will  please  address 

HON.  W.  P.  CAMPBELL, 
Land  Commissioner,  Little  Rock,  Ark. 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


93 


RESOURCES  OE  EE0R1DA. 


ADDRESS  BY  GEN.  W.  H.  SEBRING,  OF  BRONSON,  FLORIDA. 


Ladies  and  Gentlemen — The  capitalist,  the  sturdy 
farmer,  the  skilled  mechanic  and  day  laborer  are  not 
influenced  by  brilliant  burst  of  poetic  fancy.  Figures, 
stripped  of  all  their  adornment  save  the  dollars  and 
cents  they  may  represent  and  the  means  of  accumu- 
lating wealth,  are  the  most  potent  factors  in  securing 
immigration.  A few  statistics  will  give  you  an  accurate 
idea  of  the  resources  of  Florida,  and  will  recommend  it 
to  your  attention  as  well  as  its  soil,  and  climate,  and 
enterprising  population. 

Florida  has  59,268  square  miles  and  37,931,520  acres. 
The  State  of  Florida  increased  43  per  cent,  in  popula- 
tion from  1870  to  1880 — a larger  increase  than  is  shown 
during  that  period  in  any  State  east  of  the  Mississippi. 
In  1880,  our  population  was  300,000  ; estimated  increase 
since  1880,  100,000;  and  we  expect  to  show  600,000  in 
1890.  Our  immigration  is  of  the  very  highest  order  of 
intellect  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 


No.  of  farms  in  1870 , 10,241 

No.  of  farms  in  1880 23,438 

No.  of  acres  of  land  in  farms  in  1870 2,373,541 

Valued  at $ 9,947,920 

No.  of  acres  of  land  in  farms  in  1880 3,297,324 

Valued  at $20,291,835 


Estimated  increase  of  value  of  farm  land  from  1 880  to 
1884,  $8,000,000  ; or  total  of  $28,291,835. 


94  Proceedings  of  the 

PRODUCTS  FROM  l88o  TO  1 883. 


1880. 

1883. 

Corn,  bushels 

; 3,174,234 

3,986,363 

Oats,  bushels 

483,963 

Sugar,  hogsheads 

U273 

1,674 

Molasses,  gallons 

1,793,872 

Rice,  pounds 

1,294,677 

1,864,734 

Tobacco,  pounds 

21,182 

24,268 

Irish  potatoes,  bushels 

22,641 

Sweet  potatoes,  bushels 

1,687,613 

2,141,321 

The  raising  of  Indian  jute  promises  to  be  one  of  the 
most  promising  industries  in  the  State. 

Sea  Island  cotton  is  principally  raised  in  the  counties 
of  Alachua,  Marion,  Levy,  Columbia,  Sewanne,  Hamil- 
ton, Madison,  Bradford,  Baker  and  Clay.  The  number 
of  bales  raised  in  1880,  14,000;  in  1883,  17,000;  value, 
$2,125,000. 

Short  staple  cotton  raised  in  1879,  54,997;  1883, 
60,000 ; value,  at  $50  per  bale,  $300,000.  This  cotton 
is  principally  raised  in  the  counties  of  Jackson,  Gads- 
den, Leon,  Jefferson  and  Madison. 

Oranges  are  principally  raised  in  the  counties  of 
Orange,  Valenia,  St.  Johns,  Putnam,  Marion,  Sumter, 
Hillsboro,  Ledy,  Hernando,  Polk,  Alachua,  Columbia, 
Duval,  Buvard,  Monroe,  Franklin,  Calhoun,  Liberty 
and  Manatee.  Of  the  crop  of  1883,  number  of  boxes 
shipped,  600,000;  value,  $1,800,000. 

Of  the  semi-tropical  fruits  we  have  the  cocoanuts, 
bananas,  pineapple,  guados,  all  of  which  are  raised 
principally  in  the  counties  of  Monroe,  Dade,  Buvard, 
Manatee,  Valenia,  Orange  and  Hillsboro.  While  we 
have  no  statistics  in  regard  to  this  latter  industry,  we 
are  assured  from  data  in  our  possession  that  it  is  of 
growing  importance,  the  acreage  in  these  fruits  having 
greatly  increased  in  the  last  three  or  four  years. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  95 

From  the  young-  industry  of  fisheries,  scarce  five  years 
old,  there  has  been  realized  for  the  last  year  $498,862. 

From  the  sponge  industry  was  realized  in  1879  the 
sum  of  $200,750,  and  in'  1883,  $321,460. 

MILES  OF  RAILROAD  IN  FLORIDA. 


In  operation  in  the  year  1880 537 

In  operation  in  the  year  1882 762 

In  operation  in  the  year  1883 1,224 


Showing  an  increase  from  March,  1880,  to  March, 
1883,  of  697  miles,  being  an  increase  of  more  than  100 
per  cent,  in  three  years.  We  cannot  have  too  many 
railroads  in  Florida,  and  a few  figures  will  serve  to  illus- 
trate that  an  acre  of  orange  trees  in  full  bearing  will 
produce  200,000  oranges,  which,  boxed,  will  weigh  100,- 
000  pounds,  or  three  car-loads  of  33,000  pounds  each. 
Cotton  will  not  average  in  the  middle  of  the  State  over 
a bale  to  three  acres.  A single  car  will  carry  fifty  bales 
of  compressed  cotton,  or  the  production  of  150  acres. 
One  acre  of  full  bearing  oranges  will  require  three  times 
the  cars  to  transport  them — 150  acres — that  will  be 
required  to  transport  cotton,  the  product  of  120,000 
acres.  The  product  of  bearing  orange  trees  will  require 
needed  transportation  facilities  for  6,000,000  bales  of 
cotton,  the  product  of  18,000,000  acres. 

The  steamboat  tonnage — inland  and  local — on  the 
St.  Johns  River,  actively  and  prosperously  engaged  in 
its  freight  and  passage  traffic,  consists  of  seventy-four 
steamboats  of  8, 168  tons  registered,  representing  a value 
of  $2,042,000.  This  is  a greater  steamboat  tonnage 
than  there  was,  by  the  last  census  reports,  of  ocean  and 
inland,  in  any  State  south  of  Maryland  on  the  Atlantic 
coast,  with  the  exception  of  Georgia  ; and  more,  as  it 
appears  by  the  same  reports,  than  was  then  in  service 


9 6 


Proceedings  of  the 

for  purely  local  inland  traffic  upon  any  river  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  south  of  the  Hudson,  and  is  an  increase 
since  1880  of  128  per  cent. 

The  number  of  passengers  brought  into  Florida  by 
railroad  from  coast  line  States  were,  during  1882,  27,735  5 
and  carried  outward  to  similar  points,  23, 184 ; an  increase 
over  1880  of  258  per  cent. 

The  shipments  of  sawed  lumber  from  the  port  of  St. 
Johns  alone  amounted,  during  the  year  1882,  to  over 
55,000,000  feet.  From  the  port  of  Pensacola  the  ship- 
ments of  sawed  lumber  amounted  to,  for  the  year  1883, 
226,647,976  feet.  From  the  port  of  Cedar  Keys  the 
shipments  of  sawed  lumber  for  the  year  1882  amounted 
to  5,000,000  feet.  From  the  port  of  Fernandina  the 
shipments  of  sawed  lumber  for  the  year  1882  amounted 
to  12,000,000  feet.  Total  of  feet,  298,647,976. 

Horses  and  mules  returned  for  taxation  in  1883,  41,- 
843.  Neat  and  stock  cattle  returned  for  taxation  in 
1883,  $558,366;  at  $10  per  head,  $5,583,660.  Sheep 
and  goats  returned  for  taxation,  $103,587  ; at  $2  per 
head,  $207,174.  Hogs  returned  for  taxation,  $27,737; 
at  $2  per  head,  $55,474. 

The  taxable  property  of  the  State  was,  in  1880,  $31,- 
157,846.  The  taxable  property  of  the  State  in  1883,  as 
shown  by  the  report  of  the  State  Comptroller,  was  $5 5 ,- 
008,610,  showing  an  increase  in  three  years  of  nearly 
100  per  cent,  in  the  value  of  the  taxable  property  of  the 
State  of  Florida. 

The  State  tax,  inclusive  of  school  tax,  was,  in  1876, 
twelve  and  one-half  mills;  in  1884  the  State,  including 
school  tax,  is  four  mills.  The  school  tax  referred  to 
here  is  a tax  of  one  mill  provided  for  by  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  is,  in  addition  to  school  taxes,  raised  by  the 
counties.  This  latter  tax  is  re0ulated  by  law,  and  at 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  97 

present  cannot  exceed  four  mills  nor  be  less  than  two 
and  one-half  mills. 

The  common  school  fund  is  derived  from  the  sale  of 
the  sixteenth  section  (640  acres)  in  every  township 
donated  to  the  State  by  Congress.  Bonds  in  fund  Jan- 
uary, 1882,  $250,284;  bonds  added  to  this  fund  in  the 
two  years,  from  1882  to  1884,  $178,700;  making  a total 
investment  (the  interest  upon  which  is  apportioned  ac- 
cording to  the  population  of  school  children  in  the  sev- 
eral counties)  of  $428,984.  It  will  be  seen  that  this 
fund  has  increased  more  than  75  per  cent.  The  $250,- 
000  referred  to  as  the  amount  of  bonds  . in  fund  in  1882, 
was  the  total  accumulation  from  the  passage  of  the  act 
by  Congress  donating  the  land  in  March,  1845,  to  the 
first  of  January,  1882. 

Florida’s  bonded  debt. 


Seven  per  cent,  bonds  maturing  1901 $ 350,000 

Six  per  cent,  bonds  maturing  1903 925,000 

$1,275,000 

Bonds  in  sinking  fund 161,900 

$1,114,100 

Bonds  of  other  States  and  currency  belonging  to  sinking  fund 37,232 

Net  bonded  debt $1,076,868 


Of  this  debt  $538,000  is  held  by  the  educational  funds 
of  the  State,  leaving  in  the  hands  of  individuals  less 
than  $600,000,  or  to  be  more  accurate,  about  the  sum 
of  $538,080  as  to  the  expenditures  for  educational  pur- 
poses by  State  and  counties.  This  statement  does  not 
include  “ tuition  ” paid  in  the  seminaries  or  any  private 
schools,  but  only  the  expenditures  by  the  government 
of  the  State  and  counties. 


One  mill  State  school  tax  provided  for  by  the  Constitution $ 55,008 

County  taxation  for  support  of  schools 171,896 

Interest  from  school  fund  and  seminary  funds 29,500 


7 


$256,404 


98 


Proceedings  of  the 

There  are  two  seminaries,  located  respectively  at 
Gainsville  and  Tallahassee. 

An  Agricultural  College  is  being  built  at  Lake  City, 
with  an  endowment  not  included  in  the  above  statement. 

In  Florida’s  thirty-nine  counties  there  are  ioo  news- 
papers. 

One  of  the  greatest  agricultural  parts  of  the  State  is 
in  the  south  or  southwestern  parts  of  the  State.  Be- 
tween the  hills  surrounding  the  capital  may  be  seen 
some  of  the  finest  Alderneys  and  Jerseys  to  be  found 
anywhere.  There  are  also  fine  farms  and  fine  farm- 
houses, in  which  are  lodged  some  of  the  sturdiest  farm- 
ers of  the  Union. 

The  sugar  soil  is  attracting  the  attention  of  Louisiana 
planters.  Our  lands  in  our  State  are  found  to  possess 
more  qualities  than  those  of  Louisiana. 

Tobacco  is  raised  in  the  middle  or  western  part  of 
the  State.  It  brings  from  forty  to  fifty  cents  per  pound, 
and  is  as  good  as  Havana  tobacco. 

The  vegetable  interest  of  the  State  is  becoming  sim- 
ply immense.  Three  times  a week  trains  of  thirteen 
cars  each  haul  away  nothing  but  vegetables. 

Persons  desiripg  information  regarding  lands,  climate, 
etc.,  of  Florida,  will  please  address 

HON.  A.  A.  ROBINSON, 
Commissioner  of  Lands,  Tallahassee,  Fla. 


99 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


THE  RESOURCES  OF  GEORGIA. 


ADDRESS  OF  MR.  DUNN,  OF  BRUNSWICK,  GA. 


President  McWhirter  then  introduced  Mr.  Dunn,  of 
Brunswick,  Georgia,  who  said  : 

Mr.  Chairman , Ladies  and  Gentlemen : I must  say 
that  it  looks  a good  deal  like  scalping  one  to  call  upon 
him  to  speak  after  this  eloquent  address  spoken  to-night.* 
I feel  like  a school  boy,  “ you  would  scarce  expect  one 
of  my  age,”  and  hope  you  will  “ pass  my  imperfections 
by,”  [laughter],  and  let  me  drop  easy.  I know  that  no 
man  from  Georgia  can  stand  upon  this  floor  and  excel, 
in  the  grand  eloquence,  the  speech  just  uttered  here. 
That  speech  must  have  been  made  by  a dashing  native- 
born  Southerner.  [Applause.]  I don’t  believe  that  a 
man  whose  birth-place  is  in  the  city  of  New  York,  like 
my  own,  an  emigrant  on  Southern  soil — a fair  type  of  an 
emigrant — can  talk  to  the  Convention  in  that  way.  I 
came  here  to  help  you  build  up  your  waste  places.  But 
this  I have  to  say : I sympathize,  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart,  for  the  Southern  man  who  can  stand  up  before  an 
audience  even  like  this  and  address  the  people  of  the 
South  concerning  labor,  because  we  of  the  North,  from 
childhood,  whether  reared  in  the  lap  of  wealth  or  the 
ordinary  circumstances  of  life,  are  taught  to  toil,  to  make 
an  honorable  living  by  the  sweat  of  the  brow.  We  have 
been  taught  from  childhood  to  believe  that  labor  of 
itself  is  dignity  ; that  labor  of  itself  is  honor,  and  that 


^Referring  to  the  address  of  the  Hon.  Chas.  E.  Hooker,  of  Mississippi. 


IOO 


Proceedings  of  the 

labor  of  itself  is  right.  Now  this  Convention,  as  I 
understand  it,  has  met  here  for  the  purpose  of  inaugu- 
rating a grand  and  noble  scheme  by  which  the  wasted 
fields  and  thin-sown  lands  shall  be  made  to  bloom  and 
blossom  like  the  gardens  of  Nashville. 

Why,  wi  can  travel  all  over  Georgia,  and  especially 
through  the  Southeastern  portion  of  it,  through  pine 
woods,  and  the  air  is  perfumed  with  the  blooms  of  the 
yellow  jessamine — the  grandest  flower,  the  most  fragrant 
bloom  that  God  could  have  given  to  us,  can  be  found 
in  these  woods.  Now  I say  this  Convention  will  inaugu- 
rate a scheme — I won’t  call  it  a scheme — a system,  by 
which  will  occur  the  diffusion  of  the  populations  of  the 
North  and  West;  populations  of  kings  because  popula- 
tions of  laborers  ; populations  of  gentlemen,  populations 
of  heroes,  the  ancestors  of  whom  now  fill  graves  in  the 
South  because  they  fought  for  what  they  believed  was 
right ; honorable  men,  because  they  believe  that  you 
fought  for  what  you  believed  was  right,  and  that  you  and 
they  had  a right  to  hold  opinions.  Welcome  that  popu- 
lation among  you  and  you  will  make  a country  the  like 
of  which  was  never  known  in  history.  New  England 
started  her  sons  to  the  West,  to  New  York,  Illinois  and 
Ohio,  and  still  further  on  toward  the  land  of  the  setting 
sun,  and  made  the  ground  fruitful  by  their  push  and  toil. 
So  with  this  diffusion  of  populations  will  your  waters, 
your  streams,  your  highways  bloom  and  blossom,  and 
yourj  very  j,  cities  will  be  built  up  by  manufactories,  be- 
cause we  of  the  North  know  how  to  manufacture;  and 
your  whole  country  will  be  made  blessed  with  the  fruits 
of  labor;  and  a higher  order  of  education.  Your  States 
will  become  like  Michigan — make  three,  four  or  five 
story  school-houses  for  a district  of  an  area  of  five  or 
ten  miles. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  ioi 

Gentlemen  of  the  South,  you  are  the  noblest  people 
on  earth.  You  have  the  land  and  the  water-power,  but 
you  lack  skilled  labor  and  that  higher  order  of  intelligent 
labor  that  you  can  have  in  the  North.  But  you  want  to 
know  how  to  get  it  here,  and  that  is  the  practical 
question. 

While  North  1 was  met  by  a farmer  who  asked  me, 
“ Where  do  you  live  ?” 

“ Down  in  Georgia.’ ’ 

“ How  do  you  like  it?” 

“ Very  well.  I live  in  a country  where  oranges  and 
all  sorts  of  fruits  grow.” 

“ How  do  they  treat  you  down  there  ?” 

“ Splendid.” 

“ Have  you  turned  Democrat?” 

“ No,  no.  I am  a Republican  sqaure  out,  as  I was  a 
Henry  Clay  Whig.  I was  a Bell  man  ” — and  this  is  one 
of  the  happiest  hours  of  my  life,  here  in  the  Capitol  of 
Tennessee,  where  Bell  once  lived.  [Applause.] 

“ Don’t  they  shoot  at  you  down  there  ?” 

“ No,  sir.  They  treat  me  very  nicely.  We  have  got 
a place  where  we  can  go  and  get  a little  money.” 

“ I thought  you  had  to  turn  Democrat  or  be  shot  ?” 

“I  have  been  there  ten  years  and  have  never  been 
shot. 

Now  that  is  about  the  idea  they  have.  1 think  I am  a 
Republican,  but  I don’t  like  the  idea  of  any  party  or  set 
of  men  disseminating  falsehoods  through  the  North  for 
political  purposes.  I don’t  want  them  to  tell  my  neigh- 
bors without  cause  that  because  I am  a Republican  I 
cannot  live  there.  I live  in  one  of  the  most  glorious 
places  in  Georgia,  and  a better  population  surrounding 
me  you  could  not  find.  I am  not  saying  this  because  I 
came  from  New  York  State ; I have  no  axes  to  grind  ; I 


102  Proceedings  of  the 

don’t  require  meal  to  eat.  I have  got  enough  to  carry  me 
through,  and  don’t  want  to  borrow  any  money  up  there. 

I do  not  think  the  South  has  given  any  reason  for  stories. 
Any  Northern  man  of  common  sense  can  come  to 
Georgia  and  live  among  her  people.  I don’t  know  so 
much  about  Tennessee.  [Laughter.[  Arkansas  has  a 
bad  reputation.  [Laughter.]  Down  in  Florida  it  has  been 
exaggerated.  Meeting  a boy  on  the  streets  of  Jackson- 
ville he  was  asked,  “ Look  here,  boy,  how  do  you  live  ?” 

“Well,  fish  and  oysters  in  summer  and  Yankees  in 
winter.” 

I thought  if  Yankees  could  live  in  Florida  they  could 
in  our  State. 

Georgia  is  one  of  the  largest  States  in  the  Union — 
a grand  old  empire  of  60,000  square  miles.  She  is 
larger  than  New  York,  and  has  resources  of  every  kind. 
It  beats  Arkansas  and  Florida.  It  is  the  only  State 
in  the  Union  that  produces  everything.  [Laughter.] 
We  have  in  our  section  the  prettiest  ladies  in  the  world. 
If  any  young  man  before  me  wants  to  come  down  there 
to  settle,  he  had  better  wait  before  deciding  on  a wife 
until  he  comes  to  Brunswick.  Savannah  has  also  got 
pretty  ladies.  Brunswick  has  5,000  inhabitants.  We 
have  a good  county,  small  in  its  way,  but  the  most  pro- 
ductive little  county  in  the  State.  I have  been  presi- 
dent of  an  agricultural  society — all  my  delegation  are 
members  of  it.  We  have  got  one  farmer  in  our  county 
who  raised  15,000  head  of  cabbage  on  three  acres  of 
land.  That  looks  preposterous,  but  I can  prove  it  by 
five  honest  delegates.  He  sent  three  heads  to  Governor 
Colquit,  and  did  not  know  how  to  divide  the  three  so  as 
to  get  them  into  a flour  barrel.  [Laughter.]  It  was-  all 
he  could  do  to  crowd  them  in.  One  cabbage  weighed 
45  pounds,  the  second  47*4  pounds,  and  the  third  46 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 103 

pounds.  I say  that  these  were  the  weights  upon  my 
reputation  as  a Georgian. 

Thomas  county  produces  more  oats  to  the  acre  than 
any  county  in  the  United  States.  [Laughter.]  I hav’nt 
got  anybody  from  Thomas  county  to  prove  it  by.  I am 
not  joking. 

We  have  one  of  the  finest  harbors  on  the  Atlantic 
coast.  It  is  seven  miles  long  and  three  or  four  miles 
wide,  with  any  depth  of  water.  We  can  float  upon 
it  the  navies  of  the  world.  This  harbor  of  Brunswick  is 
situated  on  the  other  end  of  the  East  Tennessee, 
Virginia  & Georgia  Railway,  That  will  account,  prob- 
ably, for  the  affection  and  the  love  of  the  people  of 
Brunswick  for  the  people  of  Tennessee.  We  are  linked 
together  by  iron  bands.  This  system  embraces  1,700  or 
1,800  miles  of  railway  in  Georgia  and  Tennessee.  That 
is  the  terminus  of  this  railway.  We  have  another. 
The  Brunswick  & Western  runs  to  Columbus  and  New 
Orleans.  We  are  specially  fixed  for  the  transportation 
of  immigrants  at  a very  low  rate.  Railroad  men  are 
thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  this  movement.  Bruns- 
wick is  the  best  spot  on  earth  to  land  immigrants.  We 
propose  to  donate  enough  money  to  beat  Savannah  and 
New  Orleans.  An  organization  has  been  formed  and  a 
charter  obtained  with  a view  to  encouraging  immigration 
through  Brunswick.  A similar  organization  has  been 
formed  in  London,  and  the  first  steamer  will  come  over 
in  June.  It  will  be  loaded  with  immigrants  whom  we 
propose  to  divide  among  the  Southern  people — I don’t 
mean  each  immigrant.  [Laughter.] 

Mr.  President,  I desire  to  submit  to  this  Association  a 
description  of  Georgia,  prepared  under  the  direction  of 
Thomas  P.  Janes,  A.M.,  M.D.,  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture of  Georgia,  July  22,  1879.  Since  this  was  pub- 


104  Proceedings  of  the 

lished  our  State  has  made  wonderful  progress  in  mining, 
manufacturing,  population  and  in  wealth. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  SITUATION  OF  GEORGIA. 

The  State  of  Georgia  lies  in  the  southeastern  portion 
of  the  United  States,  and,  with  Florida,  constitutes  the 
extreme  portion  of  the  American  Union  in  that  direc- 
tion. In  the  original  settlement,  its  chartered  limits 
extended  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  Mississippi 
River,  with  the  thirty-first  parallel  of  north  latitude  as 
its  northern  boundary,  and  the  thirty-first  parallel  and 
Florida  as  its  boundary  on  the  south.  Early  in  the 
present  century,  a very  large  portion  of  this  territory 
westward — nearly  two-thirds — was  ceded  to  the  United 
States,  and  out  of  it,  in  great  part,  have  since  been 
formed  the  two  new  States  of  Alabama  and  Mississippi. 

From  the  above,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  entire  State 
lies  within  the  southern  portion  of  the  temperate  zone, 
and,  as  a consequence,  is  exempt  alike  from  the  rigors 
and  other  discomforts  and  disadvantages  of  a cold  cli- 
mate, and  the  debility  and  diseases  incident  to  tropical 
regions.  It  may  be  said  with  perfect  truth,  that  there 
is  no  part  of  the  known  world  where  a greater  degree 
of  physical  comfort  can  be  secured  the  year  round,  or 
where  a greater  amount  of  labor  can  be  performed  in 
the  usual  vocations,  within  the  same  period  of  time,  than 
in  Georgia.  But  these  points  will  be  more  fully  treated 
under  their  appropriate  heads. 

The  geographical  situation  of  Georgia  is  worthy  of 
note  in  another,  the  commercial  view  of  the  question. 
The  thirty-second  parallel  of  north  latitude  passes 
nearly  through  the  center  of  the  State ; the  great 
southern  trans-continental  line  of  railway,  to  connect 
the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans  by  a communication 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 105 

uninterrupted  by  snows  in  winter,  and  open  the  year 
round,  has  been  located  on  and  near  that  parallel. 
Savannah,  Georgia’s  principal  seaport,  is  but  15'  north 
of  that  line,  and  is  destined  to  become  the  eastern  ter- 
minus of  this  great  highway  of  trade.  It  is  943  miles 
nearer  to  San  Diego,  on  the  California  coast,  than  New 
York — the  eastern  terminus  of  the  Northern  lines — is  to 
San  Francisco ; the  distance  between  the  two  latter 
cities  being  3,456  miles,  while  the  distance  between  the 
two  former  is  only  2,512  miles.  This  road  will  be  com- 
pleted in  a very  few  years,  and  its  beneficial  effects  upon 
the  trade  and  general  prosperity  of  Georgia  are  too 
obvious  to  require  comment.  The  facts  stated  show  that 
this  Southern  line  is  destined  to  become  the  favorite  high- 
way of  the  Pacific  trade,  including  that  of  China  and  Japan, 
with  the  ports  of  Georgia  as  its  chief  e7itrepots  in  the  East. 

Georgia,  from  her  geographical  relations,  is  also  the 
natural  highway  to  the  teeming  products  of  the  great 
agricultural  heart  of  the  country — the  Mississippi  Valley. 
A straight  line  from  St.  Louis,  or  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio, 
shows  that  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Georgia  is  much  nearer 
and  more  accessible  to  the  commerce  of  the  West  than 
that  of  any'  other  State  in  the  Union.  Several  lines  of 
railway  between  these  two  sections  are  already  in  suc- 
cessful operation ; while  a projected  canal  from  the 
Tennessee  river  to  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Alta- 
maha  tributaries  in  Georgia  will  afford  ample  water 
transportation  to  the  commerce  of  the  West  seeking 
European  markets,  and,  in  point  of  time,  speedier  than 
that  hitherto  employed — the  circuitous  route  via  the 
Mississippi  river  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  This  canal 
route  has  been  surveyed  by  direction  of  Congress,  its 
practicability  and  cheapness  fully  determined,  and  its 
construction  made  a simple  question  of  time. 


106  Proceedings  of  the 

FACE  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 

The  nominal  divisions  of  the  State  are  three-fold, 
to-wit : Lower,  Middle  and  Upper  Georgia.  These  cor- 
respond, in  the  order  stated,  with  the  three  great  natural 
divisions,  viz  : the  low  country,  the  hill  country  and  the 
mountain  region. 

Lower  Georgia  lies  below  the  line  crossing  the  heads 
of  navigation  of  the  rivers,  a portion  of  which  flow  into 
the  Atlantic  ocean,  and  a portion  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
It  is  the  largest  of  the  three  divisions,  comprising  about 
35,000  square  miles.  It  lies,  for  the  most  part,  below 
the  level  of  300  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  the 
average  elevation  being  about  250  feet. 

Middle  Georgia  lies  between  the  heads  of  navigation 
and  the  elevation  of  1,000  or  1,100  feet,  the  average 
being  750  feet.  It  has  an  area  of  15,000  square  miles. 

Upper  Georgia  constitutes  the  northern  portion  of  the 
State,  and  embraces  all  the  mountains  of  any  note,  and 
much  hill  country.  It  has  an  area  of  about  10,000 
square  miles.  The  eastern  half  has  an  average  eleva- 
tion of  about  1,500  feet,  whilst  there  are  mountain 
chains  that  rise  to  the  height  of  3,000  feet,  and  peaks 
to  4,800  feet.  The  western  half  is  much  lower,  the 
general  elevation  being  only  750  feet,  with  mountains 
up  to  2,000  feet. 

The  average  elevation  of  the  surface  of  the  State 
is  650  feet  above  the  sea. 

These  three  divisions  of  the  State  differ  in  soil  and 
climate,  and,  to  some  extent,  in  productions,  as  we  shall 
have  occasion  to  note  more  particularly  hereafter,  when 
we  come  to  treat  of  those  several  topics. 

CLIMATE. 

In  nothing  regarding  us  is  a greater  mistake  made 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  107 

abroad,  and  indeed  in  some  parts  of  our  own  country, 
than  in  the  climate,  or  atmospheric  conditions,  of  Geor- 
gia. The  State  being  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
Union,  lying  between  parallels  of  latitudes  30°,  39',  27" 
(average)  and  350,  the  stranger  naturally  concludes  that 
our  climate  is  mild  and  delightful  in  Winter;  and  in  this 
he  is  correct.  We  have  but  little  snow — in  more  than 
half  the  State  none  at  all  for  years  together — we  import 
and  manufacture  all  our  ice,  and  field  work  may  be  kept 
up  at  all  periods  of  the  year.  The  difficulty  with 
strangers  is  in  determining  the  character  of  our  climate 
during  the  summer  months.  The  winters  being  pleasant 
and  genial,  they  conclude,  without  further  investigation, 
that  the  summers  must  necessarily  be  hot  and  sultry. 
This  is  a serious  mistake,  as  all  will  testify  who  have 
any  practical  knowledge  of  the  subject.  No  finer  sum- 
mer climate  is  to  be  found  on  the  continent,  east  of  the 
Mississipi  river,  than  that  of  many  parts  of  Georgia, 
and,  as  a whole,  it  will  compare  favorably  in  this  respect 
with  that  of  the  States  of  the  North  and  Northwest. 
Carefully  conducted  observations,  year  after  year,  show 
that  the  mean  annual  temperature  of  the  city  of  Atlanta, 
our  State  capital,  is  the  same  with  that  of  Washington 
City,  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  St.  Louis,  in  the  State 
of  Missouri,  which  are  from  800  to  880  miles  further 
north  The  mean  annual  temperature  south  of  a line 
drawn  across  the  State  from  Augusta  to  Columbus, 
is  between  64°  and  68° ; between  the  same  line  and 
another  parallel  to  it,  and  running  twenty  miles  south 
of  Atlanta,  we  have  a mean  annual  temperature  between 
6o°  and  64° ; in  another  strip  of  territory  including 
Atlanta,  we  have  a mean  temperature  the  year  round  of 
between  56°  and  6o°.  In  that  we  have  described  as 
Upper  Georgia,  it  is  between  520  and  56°,  while  in  the 


io8  Proceedings  of  the 

mountains  it  is  below  5 2°.  The  mean  of  Gainesville,  in 
Hall  county,  and  of  Clarksville  and  Mount  Airy,  in 
Habersham  county,  corresponds  with  that  of  Central 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Upper  Missouri  and  Lower  Ne- 
braska. We  refer  to  the  map  of  the  State  for  a better 
understanding  of  the  several  localities  above  referred  to, 
as  well  as  the  significance  of  the  figures  given  in  this 
connection.  We  have  the  winter  climate  of  Rome  and 
the  summer  climate  of  Jerusalem. 

SOILS  AND  PRODUCTIONS. 

The  soils  of  Georgia  are  among  the  very  best  of  the 
older  States;  in  virgin  fertility  she  surpassed  them  all, 
as  is  evidenced  by  her  rapid  settlement  from  other 
States  upon  the  extinguishment  of  the  Indian  title  to 
the  lands.  Injudicious  cultivation,  in  the  haste  to  get 
rich,  has  done  much,  in  past  years,  to  impair  and  waste 
their  strength ; but  wiser  views  are  now  obtaining,  and 
with  systems  of  culture  greatly  improved,  production  is 
steadily  increasing  without  material  addition  to  the 
population. 

The  soils  of  Georgia  are  as  various  as  the  elements 
of  rocks,  and  the  vegetable  and  animal  remains  that 
compose  them. 

I11  Upper  Georgia,  or  the  northernmost  division  of 
the  State,  the  soil  is  a mixture  of  clay  and  sand.  In  the 
western  half  of  this  section  there  is  a large  admixture 
of  lime,  and  the  clay  is  generally  red,  with  here  and 
there  a yellowish  brown  or  drab.  In  the  eastern  half,  the 
clay  is  altogether  reddish,  and  the  soil  not  calcareous. 
The  valleys  and  coves  of  both  are  very  rich  and  product- 
ive, while  the  hillsides  yield  generously  to  judicious  culti- 
vation. There  are  many  fine  farms  on  the  very  summit 
of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  Lookout  range  of  mountains. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  109 

The  chief  agricultural  productions  of  Upper  Georgia 
are  Indian  corn  or  maize,  wheat,  barley,  rye,  oats,  pota- 
toes, sorghum,  and  all  the  grasses,  including  clover. 
Its  wheat,  with  that  of  Middle  Georgia,  is  considered 
the  heaviest  and  best  grown  in  the  Union,  and  always 
commands  a premium  in  the  Northern  markets.  All 
the  grains  mentioned  grow  to  great  perfection,  and  the 
yield  of  hay,  where  proper  attention  is  given  that  crop, 
is  very  large.  The  soil  and  climate  are  also  admirably 
adapted  to  tobacco,  though  it  has  not,  up  to  this  time, 
received  that  attention  as  a crop  that  it  deserves.  Many 
good  judges  consider  Upper  Georgia,  in  this  respect, 
superior  to  either  Virginia  or  North  Carolina,  as  the  soil 
is  not  only  suitable,  but  the  season  for  planting  is  much 
earlier,  and  of  growth  longer,  enabling  the  farmer  to 
gather  a second  crop  from  the  same  plants.  Until  a 
very  recent  date,  this  section  of  the  State  was  regarded 
as  unsuited  to  the  successful  cultivation  of  cotton,  but 
the  introduction  of  commercial  fertilizers,  the  effect 
of  which  is  to  hasten  growth  and  maturity,  and  increase 
production,  has  brought  about  quite  a revolution  as 
regards  the  great  staple.  It  is  now  being  successfully 
grown,  in  considerable  quantities,  as  far  north  as  the 
Tennessee  line.  As  evidence  of  the  rapid  increase 
in  the  production  of  cotton  in  this  section,  we  may  men- 
tion the  fact  that  the  city  of  Atlanta,  whose  trade  in  that 
commodity  ten  years  ago  was  so  inconsiderable  as  scarcely 
to  have  a place  in  the  local  market  reports,  had  received, 
up  to  the  first  of  April  of  the  present  year  (1878),  or  in 
seven  out  of  twelve  cotton  months,  98,000  bales,  grown 
almost  exclusively  in  Upper  Georgia.  Hemp,  flax  and 
jute  may  also  be  grown  with  profit.  During  a good 
part  of  the  year  the  mountains  afford  the  finest  range 
for  cattle,  sheep  and  goats,  whilst  hogs  keep  fat  in  the 


1 1 o Proceedings  of  the 

fall  and  early  winter  months  on  the  masts  of  nuts  and 
acorns.  All  the  varieties  of  vegetables  flourish  in  this 
part  of  the  State.  The  fruits  that  thrive  best  are  the 
apple,  the  pear,  the  cherry,  the  plum  and  the  grape  ; also 
the  raspberry  and  strawberry.  The  last  mentioned  may 
be  said  to  grow  equally  well  in  every  part  of  the  State. 
The  spring  and  well  water  of  this  section  is  unsurpassed 
in  any  part  of  the  world. 

The  surface  of  Middle  Georgia  is  rolling,  and  the  soil 
generally  red,  with  here  and  there  a liberal  admixture 
of  gray,  and  very  strong  and  productive.  All  things 
considered,  this  is  regarded  as  the  most  desirable  por- 
tion of  the  State,  if  not  of  the  South.  It  is  the  great 
cotton  section,  or  the  section  where  the  soil  will  yield  a 
greater  amount  of  fruit  than  a like  area  of  equal  fertility 
in  any  other  part  of  the  State.  Indian  corn,  wheat,  bar- 
ley, rye — indeed,  all  the  cereal  crops — are  cultivated, 
and  yield  in  their  greatest  abundance.  Even  the  oldest 
lands  of  this  section  recuperate  rapidly  under  good  treat- 
ment, and  are  soon  restored  to  their  original  fertility. 
Improved  systems  of  culture  are  obtaining  very  gen- 
erally throughout  this  part  of  the  State,  which  is  the 
most  populous  of  the  three  great  divisions,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  production  is  progressive.  Of  fruits,  the  1 
apple,  pear,  peach,  fig,  grape,  melons,  and  indeed  every 
variety,  other  than  tropical,  are  grown  with  the  greatest  J 
success.  The  finest  peaches  in  the  world  grow  in  this 
section  and  in  the  northern  portion  of  Lower  Georgia, 
and  large  quantities  are  shipped  annually  to  the  North- 
ern cities.  Melons,  also,  are  grown  to  great  perfec- 
tion, and  constitute  quite  an  important  item  of  the  com- 
merce of  this  section.  The  forests  and  abandoned  fields 
abound  in  nuts  and  berries  in  large  variety,  furnished 
by  Nature  without  care  or  cultivation.  Dried  fruits  are 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  1 1 1 

becoming  an  important  item  in  the  exports  from  this 
section. 

It  may  be  said  with  truth  that  no  country  in  the  world 
offers  greater  natural  advantages  than  this  middle  sec- 
tion of  Georgia.  Embracing  a territory  about  200  miles 
in  length  from  east  to  west,  and  100  broad  from  north 
to  south,  intersected  by  numerous  rivers  and  smaller 
water  courses,  the  amount  of  water  power  available  for 
manufacturing  purposes  is  incalculable.  It  constitutes  the 
heart  of  the  cotton  region,  and  the  material  is  consequent- 
ly at  hand  to  be  worked  into  the  various  fabrics.  Ten 
railroads  cross  it  in  various  directions,  so  that  transporta- 
tion is  all  that  could  be  desired.  Its  drinking  water  is  ex- 
cellent, and  its  health  uninterrupted  throughout  the  year. 

Southern,  or  Lower  Georgia,  consists  chiefly  of  sandy, 
pine  land,  with  occasional  belts  of  oak  and  hickory,  and 
where  these  occur  the  soil  has  a considerable  mixture  of 
reddish  or  light-brown  clay,  and  is  very  productive.  The 
lands  generally  are  light  and  easy  of  cultivation,  and 
while  some  portions,  especially  those  on  the  water 
courses  of  the  southwest  and  the  red  lands  above 
referred  to,  are  very  rich,  nearly  the  whole  is  tillable, 
and,  with  occasional  light  manuring,  continue  to  pro- 
duce good  crops  from  year  to  year.  It  is,  as  a general 
rule,  sparsely  settled,  and  the  lands  are  the  cheapest  in 
the  State.  The  leading  field  products  are  cotton,  sugar- 
cane, corn,  rice,  oats,  potatoes  and  field  peas.  The 
country  being  open,  and  the  pasturage  good  through- 
out the  year,  large  numbers  of  beef  cattle  and  sheep 
are  raised  annually  for  market,  at  a cost  purely  nominal, 
as  they  require  neither  to  be  fed  nor  sheltered.  Wool 
forms  quite  an  item  in  the  list  of  its  exports  ; near  75,000 
pounds  were  cleared  at  the  custom-house  in  Brunswick 
alone  during  the  past  year. 


I 12 


Proceedings  of  the 

Cotton  is  produced  generally  throughout  the  section ; 
the  sea  island,  or  long  staple  variety,  in  the  counties 
bordering  on  Florida  and  along  the  coast.  This  class 
of  cotton  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  the  finer  fabrics, 
and  in  combination  with  silk,  but  is  less  cultivated  than 
in  former  years,  the  demand  for  it  having  been  lessened 
by  the  improvement  in  the  staple  and  quality  of  the 
common  cotton,  and  in  the  machinery  for  its  manu- 
facture. 

The  cotton  crop  of  Georgia  averages  a little  over 
500,000  bales,  or  about  225,000,000  pounds,  worth,  at 
ten  cents  per  pound,  $22,500,000. 

The  rice  lands  lie  chiefly  on  the  tide  water,  and  are 
among  the  most  valuable  and  productive  on  the  south- 
ern coast.  Considerable  rice  is  also  grown,  chiefly  for 
home  consumption,  on  inland  swamps  and  low  lands  in 
Middle  as  well  as  in  Lower  Georgia,  though  the  rice 
that  enters  into  commerce  comes  chiefly  from  the  coun- 
try along  the  coast. 

Sugar  cane  is  also  an  important  crop  of  Southern 
Georgia,  and  could  be  made  among  the  most  profitable. 
It  grows  luxuriantly,  and  yields  profitable  returns  in 
sugar  and  syrup.  Yet,  but  little  sugar  is  made  for  mar- 
ket, the  planters  usually  confining  themselves  to  a suffi- 
ciency for  home  demand,  and  relying  chiefly  upon  the 
syrup  as  a marketable  crop.  To  show  the  capacity  of 
the  soil  under  high  culture,  we  mention  one  instance 
among  the  many  of  equal  production  that  are  well 
vouched  for.  In  1874,  Mr.  John  J.  Parker,  of  Thomas 
county,  produced,  on  one  acre,  694  gallons  of  cane 
syrup,  worth  seventy-five  cents  per  gallon,  or  $520.87. 
The  total  cost  of  production  was  $77.50,  leaving  a net 
profit  of  $443.37. 

This  section  of  the  State  also  produces  an  excellent 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  1 1 3 

quality  of  light  tobacco,  such  as  is  manufactured  into 
cigars,,  though  the  plant  will  eventually  run  into  the 
heavy  leaf  unless  the  seed  are  renewed  annually  from 
the  West  Indies. 

Notwithstanding  the  variety  of  soils  and  climates, 
vegetables  of  every  description  do  well  in  all  parts  of 
the  State  ; but  it  is  chiefly  in  the  section  along  the  coast 
that  they  are  raised  for  distant  markets.  Most  of  the 
varieties  maturing  here  in  early  spring,  before  the  seeds 
are  planted  in  the  Northern  States  of  the  Union,  they 
command  a good  price  in  consequence,  and  the  producers 
realize  large  profits  from  their  business.  In  the  spring  of 
1 877,  there  were  shipped  to  the  Northern  markets, 
from  the  port  of  Savannah  alone,  23,284  packages  of 
fruit,  20,405  packages  of  vegetables  and  26,345  melons. 

Of  the  fruits  of  this  section,  melons,  strawberries, 
grapes  and  some  oranges,  are  those  chiefly  cultivated 
for  market.  The  fig  and  grape  grow  to  great  perfection, 
and  the  orange,  lemon,  lime,  banana,  pomegranate,  of 
the  tropical  fruits,  succeed  well  where  attention  has  been 
given  to  their  cultivation.  Some  varieties  of  the  pear 
also  thrive  well  in  this  section  of  the  State.  The  Scup- 
pernong  grape  grows  in  its  greatest  perfection ; the 
crops  are  very  heavy,  and  the  fruit  sweeter  than  that 
grown  in  more  northern  latitudes. 

Lower  Georgia  is  said  to  resemble,  in  soil  and  climate, 
those  portions  of  Prussia  that  lie  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
capital.  The  soil  is,  however,  in  its  natural  state,  far 
more  productive,  and  consequently  requires  less  labor  and 
expense  to  be  kept  in  good  planting  condition.  Although 
generally  sandy,  it  has  a good  clay  foundation,  or  subsoil, 
from  six  to  twelve  inches  below  the  surface,  which  enables 
it  to  retain  fertilizers  and  hold  them  as  plant  food. 


Proceedings  of  the 


1 14 

CAPACITY  OF  GEORGIA  SOIL  UNDER  HIGH  CULTURE. 

The  various  agricultural  products  common  to  Georgia 
having  been  given  with  some  minuteness  in  the  chapter 
on  Soils  and  Productions,  we  proceed  to  give  the  results 
of  a number  of  experiments  in  the  cultivation  of  those 
products,  in  each  of  those  divisions,  conducted  with 
proper  preparation  and  fertilization — such  as  are  given 
in  the  more  densely  settled  portions  of  the  world.  As 
but  little  is  accomplished  by  inadequate  means  in  any 
department  of  human  industry,  the  actual  producing 
capacity  of  a country  can  only  be  tested  by  the  results 
o {judicious  culture.  The  crops,  to  which  we  shall  refer, 
were  reported  to  the  various  State  and  county  fairs 
within  the  past  few  years,  and  both  the  culture  and  its 
results  were  verified  by  the  affidavits  of  disinterested 
parties. 

In  1873,  Mr.  R.  H.  Hardaway  produced,  on  upland, 
in  Thomas  county,  (Lower  Georgia)  119  bushels  of 
Indian  corn  on  one  acre,  which  yielded  a net  profit  of 

$77.17. 

In  the  same  county,  the  same  year,  Mr.  E.  T.  Davis 
produced  9 6y2  bushels  of  rust-proof  oats  per  acre.  After 
the  oats  were  harvested  he  planted  the  same  land  in 
cotton,  and  in  the  fall  gathered  800  pounds  of  seed 
cotton. 

Mr.  John  J.  Parker,  of  the  same  county,  produced  in 
1874,  on  one  acre,  694^2  gallons  of  cane  syrup,  at  a cost 
of  $166.50.  The  syrup,  at  seventy-five  cents  per  gallon, 
the  market  price,  brought  $520.87 — net  profit  from  one 
acre,  $443-3 7- 

In  1874,  Mr,  Wiley  W.  Groover,  of  Brooks  county, 
(Lower  Georgia)  produced,  with  two  horses,  on  a farm 
of  126J/2  acres,  without  the  aid  of  commercial  fertilizers, 
cotton,  corn,  oats,  peas,  sugar  cane  and  potatoes  to  the 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  1 1 5 

value  of  $3,258.25.  The  total  cost  of  production  was 
$1,045.00,  leaving  net  proceeds  of  crop,  $2,213.25.  The 
stock  raised  on  the  farm  was  not  counted. 

Joseph  Hodges,  of  the  same  county,  produced,  on  one 
acre,  2,700  pounds  of  seed  cotton;  Wm.  Borden,  600 
gallons  of  syrup  ; J.  Bower,  500  bushels  of  sweet  pota- 
toes ; J.  O.  Morton,  seventy-five  bushels  oats.  Mr.  T. 
W.  Jones  made  twelve  barrels,  or  480  gallons  of  syrup 
on  one  acre,  and  saved  enough  cane  for  seed. 

In  Bullock  county,  (Lower  Georgia)  3,500  pounds 
seed  cotton  were  produced  by  Samuel  Groover,  and  in 
the  same  county  twenty-one  barrels  sugar  at  one  time, 
and  700  gallons  syrup  at  another,  per  acre. 

In  Glay  county,  Mr.  — Hodge  produced  from  one 
acre,  a few  years  ago,  4,500  pounds  of  seed  cotton. 

Mr.  J.  R.  Respass,  of  Schley  county,  gathered  the 
present  year  (1878)  a little  upwards  of  500  bushels  of 
oats  from  five  acres. 

Mr.  J.  R.  Respass,  of  Schley  county,  (Lower  Geor- 
gia) in  t 877,  by  the  use  of  fertilizers,  grew  on  five  acres 
of  naturally  poor  land,  15,000  pounds  of  seed  cotton, 
which  netted  him  when  sold  $66.02  per  acre. 

Mr.  H.  T.  Peeples,  of  Berrien  county,  reports  to  this 
Department  a crop  of  800  bushels  of  sweet  potatoes 
grown  on  one  acre  of  pine  land. 

In  1876,  Mr.  G.  J.  Drake,  of  Spalding  county,  (Mid- 
dle Georgia)  produced  seventy-four  bushels  of  corn  on 
one  acre  of  land. 

Mr.  John  Bonner,  of  Carroll  county,  made  three  bales 
of  cotton  (500  pounds  each)  on  one  acre.  Mr.  R.  H. 
Springer,  of  the  same  county,  produced  nine  bales 
from  five  acres,  without  manures,  and  ninety-four  bales 
from  100  acres,  by  the  use  of  fertilizers. 

In  1873,  Mr.  S.  W.  Leak,  of  the  same  county,  pro- 


1 1 6 Proceedings  of  the 

duced  on  one  acre  \of2  bushels  of  wheat,  worth  $80.50; 
cost  $14.50 — net  profit  $66.00. 

In  Wilkes  county,  123  bushels  corn  were  produced 
on  one  acre  of  bottom  land  ; also  forty-two  bushels 
Irish  potatoes  on  one-tenth  acre,  the  second  crop  same 
year  on  same  land  ; the  first  crop  very  fine,  but  not  so 
good. 

Mr.  J.  F.  Madden,  of  the  same  county,  produced,  in 
1876,  on  one  acre,  137  bushels  of  oats. 

Mr.  T.  C.  Warthen,  of  Washington  county  (on  the 
line  of  Middle  and  Lower  Georgia),  produced,  in  1873, 
on  1. 1 125  acres,  6,917  pounds  of  seed  cotton,  equivalent 
to  five  bales  of  461  pounds  each,  worth,  at  1 f/2  cents 
per  pound — the  average  price  of  that  year — $403.37. 
The  cost  of  culture  was  $148.58  ; net  profit,  $254.79, 
for  a very  small  fraction  over  one  acre. 

Dr.  Wm.  Jones,  of  Burke  county,  produced  480  gal- 
lons of  syrup  on  one  acre.  Wesley  Jones,  of  the  same 
county,  produced  three  bales  of  cotton,  500  pounds 
each,  per  acre.  James  J.  Davis,  in  the  same  county, 
made,  in  1877,  with  two  mules,  thirty-four  bales  of  cot- 
ton, 500  pounds  each,  600  bushels  of  corn  and  300  bush- 
els of  oats.  Wm.  C.  Palmer,  of  the  same  county,  made, 
in  1877,  with  one  mule,  twenty-five  bales  of  cotton,  500 
pounds  each,  and  a fair  crop  of  corn.  Henry  Miller,  of 
the  same  county,  produced,  in  1877,  sixty-five  bushels 
of  corn  per  acre,  first  year,  on  reclaimed  swamp,  with- 
out manures. 

Mr.  R.  M.  Brooks,  of  Pike  county  (Middle  Georgia), 
produced,  in  1873,  on  five  acres  of  bottom  land,  500 
bushels  of  rice.  The  total  cost  was  $75 — net  profit,  $300. 

Mr.  R B.  Baxter,  of  Hancock  county  (Middle  Geor- 
gia), in  1872,  harvested  at  the  first  cutting,  first  year’s 
crop,  4,862  pounds  of  dry  clover  hay  per  acre. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  1 1 7 

Mr.  A.  J.  Preston,  of  Crawford  county,  gathered,  from 
one  acre  of  Flint  River  bottom,  4,000  pounds  seed  cot- 
ton, and  from  another,  on  same  place,  1 1 5 bushels  of  corn. 

Dr.  T.  P.  Janes,  of  Greene  county  (Middle  Georgia), 
produced,  in  1871,  five  tons  of  clover  hay  per  acre,  in 
one  season,  at  two  cuttings. 

Mr.  Patrick  Long,  of  Bibb  county  (on  the  line  of' Mid- 
dle and  Lower  Georgia),  harvested  from  one  acre  of 
land,  from  which  he  had  gathered  a crop  of  cabbages  in 
June  of  the  same  year,  8,646  pounds  of  native  crab- 
grass  hay. 

Mr.  S.  W.  Leak,  in  Spalding  county  (Middle  Georgia), 
gathered,  in  the  fall  of  1873,  from  one  acre,  from  which 
he  had  harvested  forty  bushels  of  wheat  in  June,  10,720 
pounds  of  pea-vine  hay.  Net  profit  from  wheat,  $66  ; 
from  pea-vine  hay,  $233.08  ; making,  in  one  year  from  a 
single  acre,  a net  profit  of  $299.08. 

Mr.  Wm.  Smith,  of  Coweta  county  (Middle  Georgia), 
produced  2,200  pounds  seed  cotton  per  acre  on  ten  acres. 

Mr.  Edward  Camp,  of  the  same  county,  produced 
1,000  bushels  of  oats  from  ten  acres. 

Mr.  J.  T.  Manley,  of  Spalding  county  (Middle  Geor- 
gia), produced  115  bushels  of  oats  from  one  acre. 

Mr.  S.  W.  Bloodworth,  of  the  same  county,  gathered, 
in  1870,  137  bushels  of  corn  from  one  acre. 

Mr.  L.  B.  Willis,  in  Greene  county  (Middle  Georgia), 
in  June,  1873,  from  one  acre  and  a third,  harvested 
twenty  bushels  of  wheat,  and  the  following  October, 
27,130  pounds  of  corn  forage.  From  the  forage  alone 
he  received  a profit  of  $159.22  per  acre. 

Dr.  W.  Moody,  of  the  same  county,  harvested,  at  one 
cutting,  from  one  acre  of  river  bottom,  in  1874,  13,953 
pounds  of  Bermuda  grass  hay;  cost,  $12.87;  value  of 
hay,  $209.29;  net  profit,  $196.42. 


1 1 8 Proceedings  of  the 

Mr.  J.  R.  Winters,  of  Cobb  county  (Upper  Georgia), 
produced,  in  1873,  from  1.15  acres,  6,575  pounds  of  dry 
clover  hay  at  the  first  cutting  of  the  second  year’s  crop. 

Mr.  T.  H.  Moore,  of  the  same  county,  produced  on 
one  acre  105  bushels  of  corn,  while  Mr.  Jeremiah  Daniel 
produced  125  bushels. 

Mr.  R.  Peters,  Jr.,  of  Gordon  county  (Upper  Georgia), 
harvested,  in  1874,  from  three  acres  of  lucerne,  four 
years  old,  fourteen  tons  and  200  pounds  of  hay,  or 
9,400  pounds  per  acre. 

Capt.  C.  W.  Howard  produced,  on  Lookout  Mount- 
ain, in  Walker  county  (Upper  Georgia),  in  1874,  on  one 
acre  of  unmanured  land,  which  cost  him  twenty-five 
cents  per  acre,  with  one  hoeing  and  plowing,  ioSj4 
bushels  of  Irish  potatoes,  which  he  sold  in  Atlanta  at  a 
net  profit  of  $97.25.  On  land  manured  and  better  prepared 
and  worked,  double  that  quantity  could  be  produced. 

Mr.  Thomas  Smith,  of  Cherokee  county,  produced 
104  bushels  of  corn  from  one  acre. 

Mr.  John  Dyer,  of  Bibb  county,  produced,  in  1873, 
from  one  acre,  at  a cost  of  $8.00,  398.7  bushels  of  sweet 
potatoes,  which  he  sold  at  a net  profit  of  $290.92. 

Mr.  Haddon  P.  Redding,  of  Fulton  county,  in  1877, 
produced  from  one  acre  400  bushels  of  St.  Domingo 
yam  potatoes,  which  he  readily  sold  in  Atlanta  at  an 
average  price  of  $1.00  a bushel. 

These  instances  of  production  are  exceptional,  and 
far  beyond  the  usual  results  of  farming  in  our  State  ; 
but  they  serve  to  show  the  capacity  of  our  soil  when 
properly  fertilized,  and  cultivated  with  intelligence  under 
the  guidance  of  science.  It  will  not  be  denied,  however, 
that  what  the  parties  named  have  accomplished  on  a 
limited  scale,  may  be  done  by  others  on  still  larger 
areas,  and  with  corresponding  results. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  119 

METALS  AND  MINERALS  OF  GEORGIA. 

It  is  conceded  by  all  who  have  any  adequate  informa- 
tion on  the  subject,  that  the  mineral  resources  of  Georgia, 
in  extent  and  value,  are  unsurpassed,  if  equaled,  by  those 
of  any  other  American  State.  The  variety  and  richness 
of  her  ores,  and  other  natural  products  of  a kindred 
nature,  are  facts  which,  in  their  full  force,  have  lain 
buried  beneath  the  earth’s  surface  until  recent  scientific 
explorations,  under  the  direction  of  the  State  govern- 
ment, brought  them  to  the  light.  It  being  impossible, 
without  too  great  elaboration,  to  go  through  the  long 
catalogue  of  specimens  that  lie  exposed  to  view  on  the 
shelves  of  our  Geological  Museum,  we  shall  confine 
our  observations  to  a few  leading  products,  which  will 
fully  establish  the  position  that,  to  the  miner,  no  coun- 
try on  the  globe  presents  advantages  superior  to  those 
of  Georgia. 

Gold.  It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  true  value  of 
this  interest,  and  all  calculations  must  be  based  upon 
the  actual  production  of  the  mines  in  the  past,  and 
indications  of  the  presence  of  that  precious  metal  as 
they  appear  to  the  scientific  eye.  These  are  the  only 
reliable  data,  and  we  shall  limit  our  remarks  to  what 
they  will  fully  justify. 

Dr.  George  Little,  State  Geologist,  after  a thorough 
exploration  of  the  auriferous  region,  declares  as  his 
conviction,  that,  all  things  co?isidered,  Georgia,  as  a 
gold-mining  region,  offers  inducements  equal  to  those 
of  California.  We  quote  his  remarks  on  this  point,  as 
they  are  both  full  and  interesting.  He  says  : 

“ But  you  must  remember  that  this  is  not  the  best 
point  that  is  offered  by  our  North  Georgia  mines.  You 
see  it  is  not  the  quantity  of  gold  that  makes  a section 
valuable  to  miners.  It  is  the  facility  with  which  the  ore 


120  Proceedings  of  the 

is  mined;  it  is  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  sent  to 
market;  it  is  the  cheapness  of  labor;  it  is  the  nearness 
of  timber  and  water  courses ; it  is  the  healthfulness  of 
the  climate,  and  the  facility  with  which  provisions  may 
be  procured.  In  all  these  points  Georgia  excels.  A 
ton  of  ore  in  the  Black  Hills,  of  twice  the  richness,  is 
not  worth  as  much  as  a ton  of  ore  in  Georgia.  A mine 
of  enormous  richness  is  of  little  value  if  it  is  in  the 
heart  of  an  impenetrable  or  dangerous  or  malarious 
region.  Lumps  of  gold  might  exist  at  the  north  pole 
without  being  of  any  practical  value.  There  are  scientists 
who  believe  that  great  masses  of  this  precious  metal 
are  to  be  found  at  the  centre  of  the  earth.  Of  what 
account  is  it,  however,  to  us? 

“ Now,  the  gold  of  North  Georgia  is  in  a perfectly 
accessible  region.  It  is  penetrated  by  first-class  rail- 
ways, and  by  short  and  reliable  hack  lines.  Every  part 
of  it  is  civilized,  and  convenient  to  cities.  And  better 
than  all,  the  gold  lies  near  to  the  surface,  and  is  easily 
reached  by  the  miner.  The  timber  needed  to  run  the 
furnaces  is  right  at  hand,  and  procurable  cheap.  The 
climate  is  the  best  in  the  world,  and  is  a famous  resort 
for  invalids.  The  water  courses  that  pour  down  the 
hills  give  the  best  possible  power.  It  is  necessary  to 
transport  only  a short  distance,  while  in  California  it  is 
frequently  carried  fifty  and  one  hundred  miles.  Labor 
is  cheap  and  easily  procurable.  In  fact,  all  the  elements 
of  cheap  working  for  gold  appear  to  be  united  in  this 
section. 

“ The  greatest  advantage,  however,  is  in  the  fact  that 
most  of  the  ore  in  North  Georgia  is  partially  decom- 
posed, and  is  worked  with  great  facility.  Where  you 
would  have  to  blast  the  quartz  in  California,  you  can 
work  it  with  a pick,  or  even  a shovel.  Consequently* 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  1 2 i 

ore  that  is  much  poorer  than  the  California  ore  can  be 
mined  here  at  a profit,  while  there  it  would  involve  a 
loss.  It  does  look  as  if  Nature  had  conspired  to  put 
the  enormous  amount  of  gold  in  North  Georgia  in  the 
hands  of  - the  miner. 

“ Besides  the  above  advantages,  it  is  very  rich — as 
rich  as  any  ore  to  be  found  anywhere.” 

Such  is  the  testimony  of  an  intelligent  and  disinter- 
ested officer  of  the  Government,  who  owns  not  a foot  of 
our  gold  territory,  nor  a share  in  our  mines. 

The  gold  belt  of  Georgia  is  about  100  miles  in 
breadth,  with  barren  intervals  here  and  there.  It  lies 
northeast  and  southwest  across  the  entire  northern  and 
part  of  the  eastern  section  of  the  State,  and  loses  itself 
in  the  eastern  portion  of  Alabama.  It  extends  through 
a large  number  of  counties.  It  has  been  found  as  low 
as  Columbia  county,  in  the  eastern  portion  of  Middle 
Georgia,  and  as  far  north  and  west  as  Fannin  county, 
which  borders  on  the  State  of  Tennessee.  But  few 
mines  have  been  developed  in  Columbia  and  Lincoln 
counties,  but  they  are  claimed  to  be  among  the  richest 
in  the  State.  A vein  near  Goshen,  in  the  latter  county, 
is  said  to  be  yielding  at  the  present  time,  $ 1,000  per 
month  at  a cost  of  but  $115.  That  portion  of  interme- 
diate territory  which  is  barren  of  gold,  is  comparatively 
small,  being  much  less  than  one-half  of  the  whole.  While 
many  very  rich  and  profitable  mines  have  been  opened 
in  the  lower  portion  of  the  belt,  the  greater  proportion 
of  the  mining  has  been  done  in  the  northern  or  mount- 
ainous section,  especially  in  the  counties  of  Lumpkin, 
White,  Union,  Dawson  and  Cherokee. 

POPULATION. 

1 he  population  of  Georgia,  as  stated  in  the  census  of 


122 


Proceedings  of  the 


1870 — the  last  taken — numbers  1,184,109.  Of  these 
637,926  are  white,  and  595,192  black  and  mulatto.  The 
white  population  of  the  coast  country  are  the  descend- 
ants of  original  settlers  from  England,  Scotland  and  the 
German  speaking  nations  of  Europe,  with  a consider- 
able admixture  of  families  from  the  Northern  States  of 
the  American  Union.  Middle  Georgia  was  settled 
chiefly  by  immigrants  from  Maryland,  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas,  while  in  Upper  Georgia,  whose  settlement  is 
of  a very  recent  date,  the  inhabitants  came  chiefly  from 
Tennessee  and  North  and  South  Carolina. 

HEALTH. 

The  idea  obtains,  among  those  who  have  not  taken 
the  trouble  to  inform  themselves  on  the  subject,  that 
Georgia,  because  she  fs  a Southern  State,  has  an 
unwholesome  atmosphere,  making  health  insecure  with- 
in her  borders.  This  objection  we  have  somewhat  an- 
ticipated in  our  remarks  on  climate.  There  could  be  no 
greater  error,  as  a comparison  of  vital  statistics  will 
abundantly  show.  The  health  of  Georgia  will  average 
quite  as  well  as  that  of  any  State  in  the  Union.  Our 
citizens  of  Northern  nativity  will  sustain  us  in  this  dec- 
laration. The  great  diversity  in  climate,  resulting  from 
a gradual  elevation  from  the  sea-coast  to  the  Piedmont 
country,  amounting  to  from  1,600  to  1,800  feet,  pre- 
cludes the  idea  of  a malarious  country.  In  the  low 
country,  immediately  along  the  lines  of  rivers  and 
swamps,  it  is  conceded  that  the  atmosphere  is  impure, 
and  that  such  districts  are  subject  to  remittent  and 
intermittent  fevers  during  the  summer  and  fall  months  ; 
these,  however,  are  generally  of  a mild  type,  and  readily 
yield  to  proper  medical  treatment.  But,  owing  to  the 
favorable  face  of  the  country  in  this  section  of  the  State, 
being  plentifully  supplied  with  hills  and  highlands,  even 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


123 


those  who  cultivate  the  swamps  and  river  bottoms  can 
fix  their  residences  in  the  vicinity,  where  they  will  not 
be  exposed  to  their  malarial  influences.  And  these 
influences  are  being  rapidly  annihilated  year  after  year, 
by  draining  and  reducing  to  dry  culture  the  swamps, 
which,  when  thus  reclaimed,  become  both  harmless  and 
among  the  most  productive  lands  in  the  State.  There 
are  larg-e  districts  that  were  considered  next  to  unin- 
habitable  thirty  years  ago  from  this  cause,  but  which 
are  now  filled  with  a thriving  population,  who  find  no 
difficulty  in  residing  in  them  the  year  round. 

The  latter  remarks  apply  exclusively  to  the  Southern 
division  of  the  State  ; in  Middle  and  Upper  Georgia, 
the  atmosphere  is  as  pure  and  wholesome,  and  the 
health  of  the  inhabitants  as  perfect  and  uninterrupted, 
as  on  any  portion  of  the  continent.  Indeed,  these  sec- 
tions, especially  the  latter,  are  favorite  resorts  of  inva- 
lids and  pleasure-seekers  during  the  summer  and  early 
fall  months,  from  all  parts  of  the  South  ; while  the  pine 
lands  of  Southern  Georgia  are  annually  visited  in  winter 
by  large  numbers  from  the  Northern  States  suffering 
from  pulmonary  affections,  rheumatism,  etc.  Consump- 
tion is  a disease  almost  unknown  in  Georgia,  except 
when  imported  from  other  States.  In  Middle  and 
! Northern  Georgia  are  to  be  found  all  our  medicinal 
springs  and  watering-places,  and  thousands  annually 
throng  to  them  in  search  of  health  or  recreation.  Under 
a theory  that  has  obtained  much  favor  among  medical 
men  of  late  years,  that  weak  or  diseased  lungs  require 
light  and  pure,  rather  than  warm  air,  the  direction  of 
pulmonary  invalids  has  been  considerably  changed  from 
the  semi-tropical  to  the  Piedmont  region,  during  the 
winter  months.  The  town  of  Marietta,  in  Cobb  county, 
'1,132  feet  above  the  sea,  has  for  years  been  resorted  to 


124  Proceedings  of  the 

by  this  class  of  invalids,  while  the  hotel  at  Mt.  Airy,  in 
Habersham  county,  1,588  feet  above  the  sea,  was  well 
patronized  during  the  past  winter  by  consumptives,  and 
with  happy  results. 

For  the  information  of  those  who  object  to  Georgia 
on  the  score  of  latitude  and  its  supposed  unhealthiness, 
we  would  institute  a single,  but  most  striking  compari- 
son : The  State  of  Michigan,  in  the  extreme  northern 
portion  of  the  Union,  and  bordering  on  Canada,  with  an 
atmosphere  purified  by  perpetual  breezes  from  the  sur- 
rounding lakes,  is  esteemed  to  be  one  of  the  healthiest 
States  in  the  Union.  Her  population  and  that  of  Geor- 
gia, according  to  the  last  census,  approximate  so  closely 
that  there  is  a difference  of  but  just  fifty  souls,  and  the 
vital  statistics  of  the  two  States,  respectively,  show  that 
their  death  rates  are  about  the  same.  It  is  difficult  to 
answer  such  facts  and  figures  as  these,  and  ignorance 
and  prejudice  must  give  way  to  truth  founded  on  actual 
experience. 

EDUCATION. 

Every  man  who  has  a proper  regard  for  the  welfare 
of  his  posterity,  in  selecting  a home  for  himself  and  fam- 
ily, will  be  influenced,  in  a large  measure,  by  the  facili- 
ties which  it  offers  for  the  education  of  his  childrem  In 
this  respect,  also,  Georgia  presents  peculiar  advantages, 
such  as  are  enjoyed  to  a very  limited  extent  in  newly- 
settled  countries,  and  superior,  in  all  respects,  to  those 
of  the  other  Southern  States  of  the  Union.  To  elabo- 
rate her  system  would  require  a volume,  and  we  shall 
only  glance  at  its  various  features. 

The  University  of  Georgia , located  at  Athens,  in  Clark 
county,  was  incorporated  and  endowed  by  a donation  of 
public  lands,  40,000  acres,  in  the  year  1784,  or  soon 
after  the  province  was  organized  as  a State.  It  has  a 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  125 

permanent  endowment  of  $370,552. 17.  It  has  five  edu- 
cational departments,  thirteen  professors  and  over  200 
students.  The  curriculum  of  studies  is  thorough.  It 
admits  “ fifty  meritorious  young  men  of  limited  means,” 
and  “young  men  who  design  to  enter  the  ministry,  of 
any  religious  denomination,”  free  of  charge  for  tuition. 
The  college  libraries  contain  about  20,000  volumes. 

Connected  with  the  University  is  the  State  College 
of  Agriculture  and  the  Mechanic  Arts,  with  its  Experi- 
mental Farm  and  Workshops.  It  has  three  departments, 
viz:  Agriculture,  Engineering  and  Applied  Chemistry, 
each  with  a regular  course.  The  tuition  in  this  school 
is  made  free  to  as  many  young  men  of  the  State  as 
there  are  representatives  (175)  and  senators  (44)  in  the 
Legislature,  and  the  students  of  both  the  University 
proper  and  the  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Schools 
have,  each,  free  admission  to  the  instruction  given  in 
the  other. 

There  are,  also,  a Law  School  at  Athens,  and  a Medi- 
cal School  at  Augusta,  connected  with  the  State  Uni- 
versity. 

The  North  Georgia  Agricultural  College,  at  Dahlon- 
ega,  Lumpkin  county,  at  which  near  three  hundred  stu- 
dents are  now  being  educated  free  of  charge,  is  also 
attached  to  the  State  University,  and  governed  by  the 
same  board  of  trustees.  It  is  proposed  to  establish  a 
similar  school  at  a point  more  convenient  than  either 
Athens  or  Dahlonega  to  pupils  residing  in  the  southern 
half  of  the  State,  and  it  will  no  doubt  be  carried  into 
effect  at  some  future  day.  Military  tactics  are  taught 
both  at  Athens  and  Dahlonega  as  a part  of  the  regular 
course,  and  competent  professors  are  provided  in  that 
department. 

Mercer  University  is  located  at  Macon,  Bibb  county, 


i 2 6 Proceedings  of  the 

was  established  by  the  Baptist  church,  and  is  wholly 
under  the  control  of  that  denomination  of  Christians. 
It  has  nine  professors,  and  the  course  of  instruction  is 
thorough.  Attached  to  it  are  a Law  and  a Theological 
Department,  at  Macon,  and  Preparatory  schools  at 
Penfield,  in  Green  county,  and  at  Dalton,  in  Whitfield 
county.  Its  libraries  contain  about  1 2,000  volumes  ; the 
buildings  and  grounds  cost  $150,000;  endowment, 
$160,000.  The  institution  enjoys  a large  patronage,  a 
considerable  portion  of  which  is  received  from  other 
denominations. 

Emory  College , at  Oxford,  Newton  county,  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  and  is  the  joint 
property  of  the  North  Georgia,  South  Georgia  and 
Florida  Conferences.  Like  the  other  colleges  of  the 
State,  it  is  well  supplied  with  apparatus,  has  a good 
library,  and  is  well  patronized. 

Pio  Nono  College , at  Macon,  as  its  name  imports,  is  a 
Roman  Catholic  institution  but  recently  established.  It 
is  well  supported  by  our  citizens  of  that  religious  faith, 
and  bids  fair  to  rank  well  among  Georgia’s  institutions 
of  learning. 

To  the  above  may  be  added  the  Atlanta  University , 
established  by  northern  donations  for  the  education  of 
the  blacks,  male  and  female,  and  supported,  in  part,  by 
appropriations  from  the  State  treasury.  Its  course  of 
instruction,'  classical  and  mathematical,  is  very  thorough. 
It  has  four  professors,  nine  teachers,  a good  library,  and 
the  classes  of  1877-78  numbered  in  the  aggregate  — 

Female  Colleges. — For  the  education  of  females  in  the 
higher  branches,  we  have  a number  of  colleges,  well 
distributed  over  the  State.  We  mention  the  Wesleyan 
P'emale  College,  at  Macon,  the  first  female  college  ever 
established  in  Georgia;  Cherokee  Baptist  Female  Col- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  127 

lege,  at  Rome  ; Southern  Masonic  Female  College,  at 
Covington  ; Rome  Female  College,  at  Rome  ; Dalton 
Female  College,  at  Dalton  ; Houston  Female  College, 
at  Perry;  Conyers  Female  College;  Young  Female 
College,  at  Thomasville  ; Andrew  Female  College,  at 
Cuthbert ; Monroe  Female  College,  at  Forsyth  ; Gordon 
Institute,  at  Barnesville  ; Gainesville  College,  at  Gaines- 
ville; LeVert  Female  College,  at  Talbotton;  LaGrange 
Female  College  and  Southern  Female  College,  at 
LaGrange  ; Furlow  Masonic  Female  College,  at  Ameri- 
cas, and  West  Point  Female  College.  Nearly  all  these 
institutions  are  flourishing,  and  turning  out  annually,  in 
the  aggregate,  large  numbers  of  well-educated  and 
well-mannered  young  women  to  adorn  and  elevate 
society. 

Besides  these,  there  are  large  numbers  of  high  schools, 
both  male  and  female,  very  many  of  them  ranking 
among  the  best  institutions  of  learning  in  the  South. 

Nor  is  Georgia  unmindful  of  her  unfortunate  children 
whom  nature  has  stinted  in  the  bestowment  of  her 
gifts  ; nor  has  she  been  niggardly  in  providing  for  their 
wants  in  this  respect,  and  in  making  them  useful  to 
themselves  and  to  others.  Large  and  costly  edifices 
have  been  erected  by  the  State  for  the  care  and  educa- 
tion of  the  blind,  and  of  the  deaf  and  dumb—  for  the 
former  at  Macon,  and  for  the  latter  at  Cave  Spring,  in 
Floyd  county.  Both  these  unfortunate  classes  are  taught 
not  only  in  the  learning  of  the  schools,  but  also  those 
useful  occupations  which  render  them  measurably  inde- 
pendent. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOL  SYSTEM. 

The  Common  Schools  of  Georgia  form,  by  far,  the 
most  interesting  feature  of  her  educational  system. 
Recognizing  the  great  moral  and  political  truth  that  in- 


128 


Proceedings  of  the 

telligence  and  virtue  form  the  basis  of  all  good  govern- 
ment, the  people  of  Georgia  have  inserted  in  their 
Constitution,  or  fundamental  law,  a provision  declaring 
that  “ there  shall  be  a thorough  system  of  common 
schools  for  the  education  of  children,”  which  “ shall  be 
free  to  all  the  children  of  the  State,”  the  expenses  of 
which  “ shall  be  provided  for  by  taxation,  or  otherwise.” 
In  accordance  with  this  constitutional  provision,  the 
necessary  laws  have  been  passed,  and  the  system  referred 
to  is  now  in  successful  and  beneficent  operation,  the 
whites  and  the  blacks  being  educated  in  separate 
schools.  The  State  appropriates  annually,  for  the  sup- 
port of  these  free  schools,  about  $300,000,  and  this 
sum  is  supplemented  each  year  by  local,  city  aud  county 
^propriations  to  the  amount  of  between  $140,000  and 
$150,000.  The  number  of  pupils  in  actual  attendance 
on  these  schools  last  year  (1877),  was  in  round  numbers, 
191,000,  of  whom  127,000  were  whites  and  64,000 
blacks.  The  progressive  interest  in,  and  usefulness  of, 
the  system  are  illustrated  by  the  statistics  of  attendance 
from  year  to  year.  In  1871,  but  seven  years  ago,  when 
it  was  put  in  operation,  the  number  of  children  taught 
was  but  49,578 — 42,914  whites  and  6,664  blacks.  In 
1874  the  number  had  increased  to  145,541,  in  1876  to 
179,405,  and  in  1877  to  upwards  of  190,100. 

The  common  school  organization  extends  to  every 
county  in  the  State,  and  includes  every  district  or  sub- 
division of  the  counties  where  the  population  is  suffi- 
ciently numerous  to  admit  of  a school ; so  that  there  is 
scarcely  a child  in  Georgia  who  is  not  within  reach  of  a 
school  where  a good  education  can  be  obtained  free  of 
expense. 

In  fine,  it  may  be  said  with  truth  that,  as  respects 
eduational  facilities  and  their  adaptation  to  the  public 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 129 

wants,  the  State  of  Georgia  is  in  advance  of  all  her 
sister  Southern  States ; while,  in  this  respect,  she  is 
progressing  year  after  year,  and  will  soon  stand  side  by 
side  with  the  older  and  more  favored  commonwealths  of 
the  North. 

RELIGION. 

The  laws  of  Georgia  guarantee  to  the  citizen  perfect 
freedom  of  religious  opinion  and  worship,  and  there  is 
no  political  or  civil  disqualification  on  account  of  relig- 
ious belief.  Every  denomination  is  not  only  tolerated, 
but  protected,  in  the  free  enjoyment  of  faith  and  worship. 
As  a necessary  consequence,  t’here  is  a complete  separa- 
tion of  Church  and  State,  both  by  law  and  practically. 
Each  moves  in  its  appropriate  sphere,  and  neither  is 
allowed  to  encroach  on  the  other. 

GOVERNMENT  OF  GEORGIA. 

The  government  of  Georgia,  in  common  with  that  of 
all  the  States  of  the  American  Union,  is  a representa- 
tive democracy.  All  officers  are  chosen  directly  by  the 
people,  or  by  persons  to  whom  the  people,  from  motives 
of  public  policy  or  convenience,  have  delegated  the 
power  of  election. 

Qualification  of  Voters.  The  Constitution  of  Georgia 
provides  that  every  male  citizen  of  the  United  States 
(except  idiots,  lunatics,  and  persons  convicted,  in  any 
court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  of  treason  against  the 
State,  embezzlement  of  public  funds,  malfeasance  in 
office,  bribery,  larceny,  or  of  any  crime  punishable  by 
imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary),  who  is  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  who  shall  have  resided  in  this  State  one 
year  next  preceding  the  election,  and  six  months  in  the 
county  in  which  he  offers  to  vote,  and  who  shall  have 
9 


130  Proceedings  of  the 

paid  all  taxes  that  have  been  legally  required  of  him, 
and  which  he  has  had  an  opportunity  of  paying,  except 
for  the  year  of  the  election,  shall  be  deemed  an  elector, 
or  person  qualified  to  vote  at  all  general  elections. 

NATURALIZATION. 

The  acts  of  Congress  provide  that  an  alien  may 
become  a citizen  of  the  United  States  on  the  follow- 
ing conditions  : 

1.  He  shall  declare  on  oath,  before  a Circuit  or  Dis- 
trict Court  of  the  United  States,  ora  District  or  Supreme 
Court  of  the  Territories,  or  a court  of  record  in  any  of 
the  States  having  common  law  jurisdiction,  and  a seal 
and  clerk,  two  years,  at  least,  prior  to  his  admission, 
that  it  is  bona  fide  his  intention  to  become  a citizen  of 
the  United  States,  and  to  renounce  forever  all  allegiance 
and  fidelity  to  any  foreign  prince,  potentate,  state  or 
sovereignty,  and,  particularly,  by  name,  to  the  prince, 
potentate,  state  or  sovereignty  of  which  the  alien  may 
be  at  the  time  a citizen  or  subject. 

2.  At  the  time  of  making  this  appplication,  he  must 
take  an  oath  before  the  same  court  to  support  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  and  that  he  entirely 
renounces  and  abjures  all  allegiance  and  fidelity  to  any 
foreign  prince,  potentate,  etc. 

3.  At  the  time  of  admission  he  must  prove,  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  court,  by  testimony  other  than  his 
own,  that  he  has  resided  in  the  United  States  five  years 
at  least ; that  during  that  time  he  has  maintained  a good 
moral  character,  and  that  he  is  attached  to  the  principles 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  well  dis- 
posed to  the  good  order  and  preservation  of  the  same. 
He  must  also  renounce  any  hereditary  title,  or  order  of 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  13 1 

nobility,  that  he  may  have  borne,  if  any,  previous  to  his 
admission  to  citizenship. 

4.  If  the  alien  be  under  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and 
has  resided  in  the  United  States  three  years  previous  to 
his  arrival  at  that  age,  if  he  subsequently  apply  for  ad- 
mission, the  three  years  of  his  minority  will  be  counted 
in  estimating  his  five  years  of  residence,  and  he  will  be 
allowed  to  make  the  foregoing  declarations  and  oath  at 
the  time  of  his  admission. 

5.  The  minor  children,  or  those  under  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  of  persons  who  have  been  duly  natural- 
ized, if  dwelling  in  the  United  States,  are  held  and  con- 
sidered as  citizens  thereof. 

6.  By  special  act  of  Congress,  passed  July  17,  1862, 
any  alien  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  upward, 
who  has  enlisted,  or  may  enlist,  in  the  armies  of  the 
United  States,  either  the  regular,  or  the  volunteer  forces, 
and  has  been,  or  may  be  hereafter,  honorably  discharged, 
shall  be  admitted  to  citizenship  upon  his  petition  with- 
out any  previous  declaration  of  his  intention,  and  upon 
proof  of  only  one  year’s  residence  in  the  United  States 
previous  to  his  application  to  become  a citizen,  of  his 
good  moral  character,  and  that  such  person  has  been 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service  of  the  United 
States. 

7.  Seamen  who  have  served  three  years  on  any  mer- 
chant vessel  of  the  United  States,  making  a declaration 
of  their  intention,  shall  be  entitled  to  become  citizens 
upon  application,  and  the  production  of  a certificate  of 
discharge  and  good  conduct  during  that  time,  together 
with  a certificate  of  their  declaration  of  intention  to 
become  citizens. 

Aliens,  the  subjects  of  governments  at  peace  with  the 
United  States  and  this  State,  so  long  as  their  govern- 


i32 


Proceedings  of  the 

merits  remain  at  peace,  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights 
of  citizens  of  other  States  resident  in  this  State,  and 
shall  have  the  privilege  of  purchasing,  holding  and  con- 
veying real  estate  in  this  State. 

This  gives  to  aliens  or  unnaturalized  subjects  of  for- 
eign governments,  whether  resident  or  not,  so  long  as 
their  governments  continue  at  peace  with  the  United 
States  and  this  State,  all  rights  enjoyed  by  citizens  of 
this  State,  except  the  right  to  vote  and  hold  office,  and 
to  perform  such  civil  functions  as  are  confined  by  law  to 
citizens  of  this  State. 

The  delegation  from  Georgia  are  proud  to  know  that 
other  States  are  doing  comparatively  well.  What  we 
should  desire,  as  American  citizens,  is  that  the  earnest 
and  intelligent  men  of  the  South  should  use  every 
endeavor  to  people  up  our  section.  We  should  be 
gratified  to  know  that  all  of  our  Southern  States  are 
increasing  in  prosperity  and  wealth,  our  cities  growing, 
and  manufactures  increasing. 

We  cannot  raise  wheat,  but  everything  in  the  shape 
of  fruits  and  flowers.  We  believe  that  our  section  of 
Georgia  is  the  garden  spot  on  earth. 

Mr.  Chairman  and  gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  I 
thank  you  for  your  attention. 

ADDRESS  OF  HON.  GEO.  N.  NICHOLS,  OF  SAVANNAH,  GA. 

Mr . Chairman : I fear  you  have  made  a mistake  in 
having  announced  me  to  make  a speech  before  this 
intelligent  audience  to-night.  I fear,  sir,  that  you  do 
not  know  me — at  least  not  as  well  as  I know  myself,  or 
am  known  in  the  place  from  which  I come.  I feel  much 
embarrassed  in  the  position  in  which  I am  placed  by 
your  announcement.  Making  speeches  was  not  taught 
me  in  my  younger  days,  and  it  is  too  late  now  for  me 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  133 

to  begin  to  learn.  I feel,  however,  that  I must  say 
something,  and  I trust  you  will  look  upon  my  effort  to 
comply  with  your  announcement  as  a first  attempt. 
What  I have  to  say  will  be  very  brief. 

In  common  with  other  sections  of  the  South,  Georgia, 
with  a large  area  of  sparsely  settled  and  undeveloped 
lands,  has  a deep  interest  in  the  objects  of  this  Conven- 
tion. Her  climate  is  varied  and  healthful,  according  to 
the  respective  sections  ; her  soil  suited  to  the  greatest 
diversity  of  crops,  with  forests  producing  the  best  of 
timber  and  naval  stores  ; her  natural  and  artificial  water- 
powers,  all  easily  reached  by  the  various  transportation 
lines,  offer  comfortable  homes  and  remunerative  em- 
ployment to  all  industrious  people,  regardless  of  nation- 
ality or  occupation.  We  desire  that  all  new  comers 
should  share  our  prosperity  as  we  hope  to  share  theirs. 
In  our  portion  of  the  State  are  parties  owning  and  con- 
trolling large  bodies  of  land,  who  will  dispose  of  them 
on  most  favorable  terms. 

Admitting  that  other  cities  are  suitable  as  ports  of 
reception  and  distribution,  we  claim  that  Savannah 
offers  advantages  in  location,  organization  and  equip- 
ment. Occupying  a central  position  on  the  South  At- 
lantic, exporting  more  cotton  than  any  other  port  on 
that  coast,  the  largest  naval  stores  market  in  the 
world,  and  with  large  exports  of  rice  and  lumber,  her 
gross  annual  exports  amount  to  fifty  millions  dollars. 

§With  a depth  of  water  of  I think  twenty-one  feet  at  low 
water  on  her  bar,  vessels  drawing  nineteen  feet  can  load 
at  her  wharves  and  proceed  to  sea.  With  the  improve- 
ments now  going  on  this  draft  is  expected  to  be  in- 
creased very  shortly  to  twenty-two  feet. 

Our  city  does  not  boast  of  having  greater  facilities  or 
means  of  furthering  the  enterprise  for  which  we  are 


134  Proceedings  of  the 

here  assembled,  than  are  possessed  by  our  sister  sea- 
ports of  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf.  She  has  facilities,  how- 
ever, that  place  her  in  the  front  rank,  and  can  boast  of 
being  the  second  cotton  port  of  the  country.  She  has 
a railroad  system  permeating  all  portions  of  the  South 
and  West.  She  has  the  most  mugnificent  lines  of 
steamships,  plying  between  the  ports  of  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and  Boston.  In  addition,  she 
has  large  numbers  of  steamers  and  sail  vessels,  carrying 
the  products  of  the  South  to  the  ports  of  the  United 
Kingdom,  Germany,  Russia,  Spain,  France,  and  to  all 
the  continental  ports.  Her  lumber  and  naval  stores 
industries  have  grown  until  she  has  taken  a front 
position  in  the  reception  and  export  of  these  products. 
To  her  belongs  the  honor  of  having  built,  equipped, 
loaded  and  despatched  the  first  steamship  that  ever 
crossed  the  Atlantic  ocean.  Her  material  resources 
are  being  rapidly  developed,  and  her  industries  built  up. 
She  has  long  had  the  reputation  of  being  old  fogy 
and  big  headed,  but  I am  thankful  that  those  who  have 
reviled  her  in  the  past,  are  wont  to  do  her  honor  in  the 
present. 

What  she  will  do  with  the  problem  we  are  here  en- 
deavoring to  solve,  I am  not  prepared  to  say.  I am  not 
authorized  to  commit  her  to  any  line  of  action.  Her 
delegates  have  come  here  to  learn,  and  the  lessons  we 
are  taught  we  will  carry  to  our  constituents,  and  en- 
deavor to  instill  into  them  the  ideas  which  prevail  in  this 
assemblage.  I think  I can  say  for  my  people,  that  they 
will  heartily  second  any  practical  movement  to  build  up 
our  waste  places  and  add  to  the  material  improvement 
of  our  beloved  South. 

If  it  should  be  determined  that  foreign  immigration  is 
to  be  encouraged,  and  to  establish  a Castle  Garden  in 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


135 


the  South  for  the  reception  of  immigrants,  the  location 
of  the  first  garden  should  be  on  the  Atlantic , thus  saving 
the  time  required  to  make  an  unnecessarily  prolonged 
sea  voyage  around  the  Florida  capes  ; and  in  doing  so, 
to  pass  by  (never  to  return  to)  most  of  the  States  this 
Association  is  intended  to  represent.  Later  a second 
depot  at  a Gulf  port  might  admirably  serve  for  immi- 
grants intended  for  the  country  adjacent  to  and  beyond 
such  port. 

Persons  desiring  information  regarding  lands,  climate, 
etc.,  of  Georgia,  will  please  address 

HON.  J.  T.  HENDERSON, 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Atlanta,  Ga. 


136 


Proceedings  of  the 


KENTUCKY. 


GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY JOHN  R.  PROCTOR,  DIRECTOR. 


Kentucky  is  situated  between  latitude  36°  30'  and  390 
6'  north,  and  longitude  50  00 ' and  120  38'  west  from 
Washington.  Area  about  40,000  square  miles.  The 
detailed  survey  of  the  State  will  probably  demonstrate 
that  the  State  is  larger  than  is  now  supposed. 

The  river  boundary  of  the  State  is  813  miles;  by  the 
Big  Sandy  or  Chatteroi  on  the  northeast  for  120  miles  ; 
by  the  Ohio  on  the  north  for  643  miles  ; and  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi on  the  west  for  50  miles.  The  Chatteroi,  Lick- 
ing, Kentucky,  Green,  Cumberland  and  Tennessee  are 
the  principal  rivers,  having  their  source  in  the  Cumber- 
land Mountains,  and  affording  to  all  parts  of  the  State 
admirable  drainage  and  river  communication'  with  the 
Ohio  and  entire  Mississippi  River  system.  No  State 
has  a frontage  on  navigable  rivers  equal  to  Kentucky. 

The  surface  of  the  State  is  an  elevated  plateau,  sloping 
from  the  Cumberland  Mountains  on  the  southeast  to  the 
Mississippi  and  Ohio  Rivers  on  the  north  and  west.  The 
eastern  coal-field , comprising  about  10,000  square  miles, 
has  an  elevation  above  sea  level  of  from  650  feet  on  the 
Ohio  River  and  1,300  feet  on  the  southwestern  border 
to  3,500  on  the  southeastern  border.  The  great  Cen- 
tral, or  Bluegrass  region,  has  an  area  of  about  10,000 
square  miles,  and  an  elevation  of  from  800  to  1,150  feet. 
The  Devonian  and  Upper  Silurian  has  an  area  of  about 
2,500  square  miles,  and  an  elevation  of  from  430  on  the 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  137 

northwestern  end  to  1,100  feet  where  it  curves  around 
the  Lower  Silurian  on  the  southeast.  The  Sub-carbon- 
iferous has  an  area  of  about  10,000  square  miles,  and  an 
elevation  of  from  350  to  600  on  the  southwest  to  950 
feet  in  the  Central  region.  The  western  coal-field  has 
an  area  of  about  4,000  square  miles,  and  an  elevation  of 
from  400  feet  along  the  Ohio  River  to  850  feet  on  the 
southeastern  portion.  The  Quaternary  has  an  area  of 
about  2,500  square  miles  and  an  elevation  of  280  feet 
along  the  river  bottoms,  and  350  to  450  on  the  uplands. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  average  elevation  above  the 
sea  for  the  State  is  over  1,000  feet.  The  elevation  above 
the  streams  is  sufficient  to  afford  most  excellent  drainage. 

The  monthly  mean  temperature  for  the  three  summer 
months  is  730,  76°  and  730,  and  for  the  three  winter 
months  270,  30°  and  350.  The  average  annual  mean  is 
550.  The  rainfall  is  50.30  inches. 

In  healthfulness  the  State  ranks  high.  By  the  census 
of  1870,  there  were  twenty-seven  States  shown  to  have 
a greater  death-rate  than  Kentucky.  The  healthfulness 
increased  as  follows  since  1850: 

Death  to  population  was,  in  1850,  1.53  per  cent. 

Death  to  population  was,  in  i860,  1.42  per  cent. 

Death  to  population  was,  in  1870,  1.09  per  cent. 

That  the  conditions  are  most  favorable  for  the  pro- 
duction of  a healthy,  vigorous  race  of  men,  is  attested 
by  the  following  table,  compiled  from  the  measurements 
of  the  United  States  volunteers  during  the  civil  war,  by 
B.  A.  Gould  : 


38 


Proceedings  of  the 


NATIVITY. 

Height  in  inches. 

1 Weight,  pounds. 

Circumference  around 
the  forehead  and  oc- 
ciput, inches. 

Proportional  number 
of  tail  men  in  each 
100,000  of  same  na- 
tivity. 

Ratio  of  weight  to 
stature,  pounds  to 
inch. 

New  England 

67.83 

139-39 

22.02 

295 

2.07 

New  York,  New  Jersey  & Pennsylvania. 

67.52 

140.83 

22. 10 

2 37 

2. 10 

Ohio  and  Indiana 

68.16 

145-37 

22.11 

486 

2-15 

Michigan,  Missouri  and  Illinois 

67.82 

141.78 

22. 19 

466 

2. 10 

Kentucky  and  Tennessee 

68.60 

149.85 

22.32 

848 

2. 19 

Free  States  west  of  Mississippi  River. . . 

67.41 

1 

21.97 

184 

2.13 

Canada 

67.08 

141.35 

22.11 

177 

2. 11 

England 

66.74 

137.61 

22. 16 

103 

2.05 

Scotland 

67.25 

I37-85 

22.23 

178 

2.08 

Ireland 

66.05 

139. 18 

84 

2.09 

Germany 

y j 

66.66 

140.37 

22.09 

106 

2. 12 

Scandinavia 

67-33 

148. 14 

22.37 

221 

2.15 

The  speed  and  endurance  of  the  Kentucky  horse,  and 
the  superior  development  of  all  kinds  of  domestic  ani- 
mals of  the  State,  are  well  known. 

Kentucky  takes  high  rank  as  an  agricultural  State, 
notwithstanding  the  large  area  of  coal-measure  rocks 
and  the  extent  of  forests  in  the  State.  More  than  one- 
half  the  State  is  covered  with  virgin  forests,  the  State 
being  only  exceeded  in  area  of  woodlands  by  three 
other  States  ; yet  it  ranks  as  the  eighth  State  in  the 
value  of  agricultural  products. 

No  State  or  country  is  susceptible  of  greater  variety 
of  products,  as  is  well  shown  by  the  following  table, 
compiled  from  the  United  States  Census  Reports.  It 
will  be  seen  that  in  each  decade  it  excelled  all  other 
States  in  the  production  of  some  one  or  more  staple 
articles  : 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 


139 


1840. 

1850. 

i860, 

1870. 

Wheat 

First. 

Ninth. 

Ninth. 

Eighth. 

Swine 

Second. 

Second. 

Fourth. 

Fifth. 

Mules 

Second. 

Second. 

Third. 

Indian  Corn 

Second. 

First. 

Fifth. 

Sixth.* 

Tobacco 

Second. 

Second. 

Second. 

First. t 

Flax 

Third. 

First. 

Third. 

Eighth. 

Rye 

Fourth. 

Eighth. 

Fifth. 

Fifth. 

Hemp 

Wool 

First. 

First. 

First. 

Ninth. 

First. 

Cotton 

Eleventh. 

1 Y\  Cl  1 III. 

Twelfth. 

Eighth. 

Value  of  Live  Stock. . . . 

Fifth. 

Fourth. 

The  lands  of  Central  Kentucky  have  been  cultivated 
for  seventy  years  and  more  without  manure,  and  the  pro- 
duction now,  with  good  cultivation,  is  equal  to  the  best 
farming  lands  of  England. 

The  soils  of  the  Blue  Grass  Region  were  formerly 
thought  unfitted  to  the  production  of  fine  tobacco  ; but 
the  high  price  and  increasing  demand  for  a certain  class 
of  tobacco  has  led  to  an  extended  planting  in  that  rigion, 
and  instances  are  frequent  where  lands  which  have  been 
in  cultivation  for  several  generations,  have  yielded,  during 
the  past  year,  from  1,500  to  2,000  pounds  of  tobacco, 
worth  from  fifteen  cents  to  twenty  cents  per  pound. 
There  is  no  danger,  with  a proper  rotation,  of  exhausting 
such  lands  by  tobacco  culture.  After  tobacco,  wheat 
and  clover  succeed  well,  and  a few  years  in  clover  pre- 
pares the  land  for  another  large  yield  of  tobacco.  As  an 

The  greater  price  per  bushel  realized  in  Kentucky  for  Indian  corn,  over  the 
corn  grown  in  the  West,  would  place  this  State  higher  in  the  list  were  the  value 
of  this  crop  given. 

tin  1870  Kentucky  produced  near  one-half  of  all  the  tobacco  produced  in  the 
United  States,  and  more  than  one-half  of  all  the  hemp.  The  production  of  tobacco 
in  this  State  increased  from  105,305,860  pounds  in  1870,  to  158,184,829  pounds 
in  1873.  The  returns  for  the  census  of  1880  are  not  yet  published,  but  the  pres- 
ent tobacco  crop  is  the  largest  ever  produced  in  the  State,  and  the  yield  of  hemp 
from  a few  counties  in  Central  Kentucky  will  be  three-fourths  the  entire  product 
of  the  United  States. 


140 


Proceedings  of  the 

instance  of  what  can  be  done  with  Kentucky  lands  when 
worn  by  improper  cultivation,  the  writer  has  personal 
knowledge  of  the  following,  which  is  but  one  of  many 
similar  examples  : 

Farmer  M purchased,  ten  years  since,  an  old 

“worn-out”  farm — having  been  rented  for  a number  of 
years  to  careless  tenants.  At  the  time  of  purchase  the 
land  would  not  produce  over  twenty-five  bushels  of  Indian 
corn  per  acre ; by  a proper  rotation,  using  no  manure, 
and  making  money  all  the  while  from  the  farm,  the  yield 
of  corn  has  been  increased  to  an  average  of  sixty  bush- 
els per  acre.  There  are  no  lands  in  Kentucky  which 
may  not  be  restored  in  this  manner. 

The  nearness  of  Kentucky  to  large  and  growing  mar- 
kets ;f  the  increase  of  manufacturing  and  mining  in  the 
State,  and  to  the  North  and  South  ; the  large  demands 
for  grain  by  the  cotton-growing  States  on  the  South, 
insures  to  the  farmer  here  remunerative  prices  for  all 
farm  products,  without  the  necessity  of  paying  the  cost 
of  long  freightage  to  profitable  markets.  The  farmer 
from  Great  Britain  will  probably  find  in  Kentucky  con- 
ditions more  alike  to  his  own  country  than  elsewhere  in 
America.  A recent  visitor  to  this  State,  J after  describing 
the  excellent  macadam  roads,  substantial  stone  walls, 
and  other  fencing  of  Central  Kentucky,  adds  : “ It  is  a 
region  reminding  the  traveler  of  the  very  richest  part  of 
England,  while  the  frequent  comfortable  houses  will  re- 
mind him  that  he  is  not  in  England,  but  in  a country 
where  the  farmer  owns  the  land  and  spends  his  substance 
upon  it.” 

Probably  no  other  State  in  the  Union  has  a population 

tThe  census  of  1870  placed  the  centre  of  population  of  the  United  States 
near  the  northern  border  of  Kentucky.  The  present  census  will  probably  place 
the  centre  within  the  border  of  this  State. 

JMr.  Edward  Atkinson. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  14 1 

as  purely  English  in  descent  as  Kentucky.  Of  the  total 
population  (by  the  census  of  1880)  of  1,648,699,  only 
271,532  are  colored,  and  59,468  foreign  born. 

Kentucky  has  hitherto  made  no  effort  to  induce  immi- 
gration, and  the  great  lines  of  travel  connecting  the 
East  and  West  passed  north  of  the  State.  This,  and 
the  fact  that  the  railways  of  the  North  and  West  owned 
large  tracts  of  land,  and  spread  broadcast  publications  to 
induce  immigration,  has  carried  the  tide  of  immigration 
north  and  west  of  the  State.  The  great  advantages 
afforded  by  this  State  are  now  attracting  attention,  and, 
for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  country,  persons 
from  the  newly-settled  States  of  the  Northwest  are  seek- 
ing homes  in  Kentucky  and  States  south  of  the  Ohio  river. 

The  scope  of  this  communication  precludes  anything 
beyond  a short  notice  of  the  mineral  resources  of  this 
State.  The  area  of  coal  is  12,700  square  miles.  The 
detailed  survey  will  show  a larger  area.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  area  is  greater  than  the  entire  area  of 
England,  Ireland,  Scotland  and  Wales.  Most  of  the 
beds  are  above  drainage,  and  can  be  mined  by  drifting, 
without  the  expense  of  deep  shafting  and  costly  pump- 
ing. The  coals  are  of  excellent  quality.  In  the  western 
coal-field  are  twelve  workable  beds  of  coal.  Associated 
with  the  lower  coals  are  several  beds  of  limonite  and 
carbonate  iron  ores.  One  bed  of  ore  of  good  quality  has 
an  extensive  area  above  drainage,  and  is  from  three  to 
five  feet  thick.  In  addition  to  the  numerous  beds  of 
bituminous  coal  in  the  eastern  coal-field,  there  is  an 
extensive  area  of  cannel  coal  of  great  richness  and 
purity.  The  iron  ores  contiguous  to  good  coals  in  that 
field  are  numerous.* 

^Persons  desiring  information  respecting  the  mineral  and  timber  resources 
will  please  apply  to  the  Kentucky  Geological  Survey,  Frankfort,  Ky. 


142 


Proceedings  of  the 

In  addition  to  the  facilities  afforded  in  these  coal-fields 
for  profitable  mining  and  manufacturing,  a wide  field  is 
afforded  for  development  in  agriculture.  The  lands  are 
very  cheap,  and  will  produce  well  under  proper  culture. 
The  large  and  growing  demands  for  timber  will  insure  a 
market  for  the  forest  products,  so  that  the  cost  of  clear- 
ing will  be  repaid  when  convenient  to  transportation. 

The  demand  for  building  lumber  in  the  States  north 
and  west  of  Kentucky  are  now  supplied  from  the  pine 
regions  about  the  northern  lakes.  The  timber  of  that 
region  is  going  at  the  rate  of  1,500  square  miles  a year, 
and  will  be  mostly  gone  in  ten  years.  After  which  the 
populous  region  referred  to  must  look  to  Kentucky,  and 
States  south  of  Kentucky,  for  the  immense  quantity  of 
lumber  needed. 

Building  stone  of  great  excellence  is  abundant  in  the 
State  ; also  fire-clay  and  pottery  clays  of  excellent  quality. 
The  great  variety  of  products,  abundant  water-powers, 
cheap  fuel,  and  variety  and  abundance  of  excellent  tim- 
bers, will  insure  a healthy  development  of  manufactures. 

For  grazing  or  sheep  husbandry,  the  cheap  coal- 
measure  lands  offer  special  advantages.  To  the  farmer 
with  money,  -who  wishes  for  his  family  the  advantages  of 
an  old  civilization,  good  roads,  etc.,  the  Central  or  Blue 
Grass  Region,  and  the  Sub-carboniferous  limestone  re- 
gion of  the  State  offers  advantages  equal,  if  not  superior, 
to  any  other  region  in  America.  The  lands,  measured 
by  the  productions,  beauty  of  scenery,  healthfulness, 
nearness  to  market,  are  cheaper  than  elsewhere  to  be 
found. 

The  following  article  by  Dr.  Robert  Peter,  on  the 
“ The  Excellence  of  the  Soils  of  Kentucky,”  is  designed 
to  form  part  of  a publication,  descriptive  of  the  resources 
of  this  State,  for  distribution  among  the  farmers  of  Great 


1 43 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

Britain  and  Ireland.  The  long  experience  and  extended 
reputation  of  Dr.  Peter  as  an  agricultural  chemist,  united 
with  his  experience  as  a practical  agriculturist,  entitle 
his  opinions  on  the  subject  to  great  weight. 

THE  GENERAL  EXCELLENCE  OF  THE  SOILS  OF  KENTUCKY,  &c. 

BY  ROBERT  PETER,  M.D.,  CHEMIST  TO  STATE 
GEOLOGICAL  SURVFY,  ETC. 

In  the  chemical  study  of  the  soils  of  Kentucky,  for 
which  the  writer  enjoyed  a very  large  opportunity  in  the 
analyses  by  him  of  about  seven  hundred  different  sam- 
ples from  over  all  the  geological  formations  of  the  State 
and  from  most  of  its  counties,  he  has  been  deeply  im- 
pressed with  the  fact,  that  while  a great  body  of  them, 
covering  a large  area  of  the  surface  of  the  State,  are 
exceptionally  rich,  fertile,  and  practically  durable,  there 
are  none  which  would  prove  irreclaimably  sterile  under  a 
judicious  use  of  the  modern  appliances  of  agriculture. 

Professor  N.  S.  Shaler,  late  Director  of  the  Kentucky 
Geological  Survey,  who  had  made  an  extensive  recon- 
noissance  all  over  the  State,  remarks  in  one  of  his 
reports,  that  out  of  its  nearly  40,000  square  miles  of 
area,  “ all  are  inhabitable  except  that  which  is  under 
water,”  and  that  even  in  the  hilly  region  on  the  eastern 
border,  on  the  flanks  of  the  great  Allegheny  range, 
there  is  very  little  waste  of  surface, — not  a square  mile — 
because  of  contour,  and  that  the  only  real  infertile  soil 
is  that  on  the  small  strips  formed  on  the  outcrop  of  the 
conglomerate  on  the  edge  of  the  coal-measures.  No 
State,  he  adds,  having  so  much  mineral  wealth,  possesses 
so  large  an  area  of  fertile  lands, 

Many  causes  have  contributed  to  this  fortunate  result, 
and  first : 

Geological  Causes. — The  rock  strata  underlying  the 


144 


Proceedings  of  the 

soil  have  been  formed  in  very  remote  geological  ages, 
and  mostly  under  deep  waters  remote  from  its  shores, 
out  of  earthy  materials  very  finely  divided.  Only  occa- 
sionally do  we  find,  in  coarse  sandstone  or  conglomerate 
rocks,  evidences  of  the  violent  action  of  the  waters  on 
shallow  surfaces.  Under  the  deep  ocean  which  covered 
this  portion  of  the  earth’s  surface,  when  the  ancient 
limestones  and  shales  were  formed  which  now  underlie 
our  soils,  the  mighty  circulation  of  the  waters  caused  by 
the  greater  heat  of  the  tropics  as  compared  with  that 
of  the  north  polar  regions — the  upper  warmer  current 
constantly  flowing  to  the  pole  while  the  lower  colder 
one  returned  to  the  equator — tended  continually  to  carry 
the  lighter,  finest  particles,  and  the  soluble  portions  of 
the  disintegrating  rocks  of  the  north  further  and  further 
south,  and  to  deposit  them  in  beds  under  the  deeper 
waters  of  the  existing  southern  ocean.  The  finer  were 
the  particles,  to  a greater  distance  were  they  carried 
before,  by  gradual  subsidence,  they  found  a resting 
place  as  a sediment,  which  in  course  of  time  was  to  be- 
come a rock. 

Hence  geologists  inform  us  that,  even  in  strata  which 
had  been  deposited  or  formed  at  the  same  geological 
time,  the  rock  layers  at  the  North  are  sometimes  formed 
of  coarse-grained,  insoluble,  silicious  material,  while 
those  further  south  and  west  are  limestones,  or  fine- 
grained shales,  rich  in  phosphates  and  other  soluble 
materials. 

Another  geological  cause  of  the  compartive  fertility  of 
Kentucky  soils  is,  that  these  rock  strata,  out  of  which 
they  were  formed,  and  which  are  made  up  of  the  most 
finely  divided  or  soluble  materials,  were  raised  above 
the  general  surface  of  the  primeval  ocean  very  early  in 
geological  history,  and  have  therefore  been  exposed  to 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  145 

the  disintegrating  influence  of  the  atmospheric  agencies 
for  immense  unknown  ages,  so  that  soils  formed  of  these 
rocks  alone  have  been  gradually  produced  to  a much 
greater  depth  than  is  to  be  observed  in  almost  any  other 
country.  Soils  thus  formed,  in  place,  out  of  the  rock 
strata  on  which  they  rest,  are  called  by  writers  Sedentary 
soils , and  said  to  have  usually  little  depth.  They  are 
hardly  known  over  the  broad  expanse  of  our  continent 
north  and  west  of  Kentucky,  the  whole  of  that  extensive 
region  being  covered  by  a mixed  deposit  of  clay,  sand, 
gravel  and  boulders,  called  the  “ Drift,”  made  up  of  the 
debris  of  more  northern  rock  strata,  which  have  been 
carried,  during  long  periods  of  polar  refrigeration  by  the 
immense  glaciers,  which  then  covered  a great  portion  of 
the  Northern  Hemisphere. 

This  mixed  deposit — made  up  largely  of  coarse  and 
hard  silicious  materials,  which  so  covers  the  country  of 
the  great  Northwest  that  scientific  observers  of  the  North 
have  asserted  that  the  soil  is  not  affected  by  its  under- 
lying rock  stratum — does  not  seem  to  have  crossed  the 
Valley  of  the  Ohio  river  to  enter  Kentucky.  The 
southern  extremity  of  the  polar  ice-field  seems  to  have 
been  near  the  line  of  our  latitude,  and  the  great  stream 
of  water  flowing  from  it,  carrying  its  gravel  and  sand, 
deflected  by  the  river  valley  and  by  the  elevated  table- 
land of  our  ancient  rocks,  was  turned  west  of  our  State, 
leaving  undisturbed  and  unburied  the  rich  soil  which  had 
been  produced  in  the  long  period  during  which  those 
rocks  had  been  raised  above  the  ocean  level. 

Professor  Shaler  states  (Rep.  Ky.  Geol.  Sur.,  N.  S., 
Vol.  Ill,  p.  208)  : “ I have  not  been  able  to  find  in  this 
Commonwealth  any  trace  of  ancient  gravels  which  have 
come  from  north  of  the  Ohio,  the  whole  evidence  going 
10 


146  Proceedings  of  the 

to  show  that  there  has  been,  within  a time  that  a granite 
boulder  can  endure  near  the  surface,  no  glacial  action 
that  could  bring  the  northern  drift  any  distance  south  of 
the  Ohio.” 

To  these  fortunate  geological  conditions,  therefore, 
are  our  Kentucky  soils  greatly  indebted  for  their  fertility 
and  for  the  extremely  fine  state  of  division  of  their  con- 
stituent particles.  In  the  great  majority  of  these  soils 
analyzed  by  the  present  writer,  the  silicious  particles, 
left  after  digesting  the  soils  in  chlorohydric  acid,  of  spe- 
cific gravity  1.1,  all  passed  through  a fine  sieve,  which 
had  sixteen  hundred  meshes  in  the  centimetre  square. 
All  scientific  writers  on  soils  attach  the  greatest  import- 
ance to  the  relative  fineness  of  the  particles  which  form 
them.  Mons.  DeGasparin  (“  Tej'res  Arables jme.  ed ., 
p.  33)  says  : “It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  nutritive 
power  of  a soil,  other  things  being  equal,  is  in  direct 
proportion  to  the  fineness  of  the  particles  which  com- 
pose it so  much  so,  indeed,  that  when  a soil  is  to  be 
chemically  analyzed,  only  the  “ fine  earth,”  or  that 
portion  which  will  pass  through  a sieve  having  ten  wires 
to  the  centimetre,  is  taken  for  the  analysis,  the  coarser 
part  being  considered  practically  inert  as  to  plant  nour- 
ishment— only  a skeleton,  which  is  not  to  be  taken  into 
account  when  estimating  the  fertility  of  a soil ; and  this 
is  especially  true  when  the  coarser  particles  are  of  quartz, 
or  some  hard  silicate  not  readily  to  be  disintegrated  or 
decomposed  by  the  ordinary  process  of  weathering,  or 
which  do  not  contain  any  essential  element  of  plant 
nourishment. 

In  this  important  particular  our  Kentucky  soils  are 
more  valuable  than  the  great  body  of  those  of  the 
great  Northwest : that  not  only  are  their  constituent 
particles  very  minutely  divided,  but  even  these,  fine 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 147 

enough  to  pass  through  the  meshes  of  the  finest  sieve 
above  described,  are  not  entirely  fine  sand  of  silica , but 
contain  a considerable  proportion  of  fine  particles  of 
decomposable  silicates,  which  in  the  process  of  weather- 
ing help  to  keep  up  the  supply  of  essential  plant  food, 
and  make  the  soils  very  durable.  In  some  of  his  analyses 
of  Kentucky  soils  the  writer  has  found  as  much  as  2.9 
per  cent  of  potash  in  the  fine  silicious  residue  of  a soil 
which  was  left  after  a week’s  digestionin  diluted  chloro- 
hydric  acid,  but  which  would  gradually  be  unlocked  and 
made  available  for  plant  growth  under  the  influence  of 
time  and  the  atmospheric  agencies. 

The  late  Dr.  David  D.  Owen,  former  Director  of  the 
Kentucky  Geological  Survey,  placed  in  the  writer’s  pos- 
session a series  of  samples  of  soils  which  he  had  col- 
lected during  his  celebrated  exploration  of  the  great 
Northwestern  Territory  for  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment in  i847’-5o;  some  of  which  the  writer  analyzed, 
giving  the  results  in  Vol.  IV.,  O.  S.,  Kentucky  Geolog- 
logical  Reports.  These  soils,  characteristic  of  the  best 
of  this  great  prairie  region,  are  mostly  very  dark  col- 
ored, sometimes  almost  black,  from  the  presence  of  a 
large  proportion  of  organic  matter,  some  of  which  is 
peaty  or  semi-bituminous,  of  little  value  for  plant  food, 
derived  from  the  decomposing  remains  of  many  suc- 
cessive growths  of  grasses  or  aquatic  plants  in  recent  or 
former  ages  ; but  in  them  all,  and  in  some  of  them  in 
very  large  proportion,  are  visible  grains  of  quartzose 
sand,  reducing  materially  the  quantity  of  “fine  earth,” 
and,  consequently,  the  durability  of  these  soils.  While 
the  organic  matters,  the  dark  vegetable  mould,  give  to 
such  soils  great  fertility  at  first,  and  cultivation  is  facili- 
tated by  the  sandy  ingredient,  the  durability  of  such 
soils,  without  the  aid  of  artificial  fertilizers,  would  be 


148 


Proceedings  of  the 

much  less  than  that  of  our  best  Kentucky  soils,  which 
contain  no  coarse  sand,  but  are  altogether  “fine  earth,” 
made  up  partly  of  decomposable  silicates.  By  reliable 
accounts  the  older  prairie  farmers  find  it  necessary  even 
now  to  resort  to  artificial  fertilizers,  while  on  the  best 
lands  of  Kentuky  cropping  for  a hundred  years  has  not 
yet  brought  about  this  necessity,  nor  will  it  perhaps  for 
hundreds  of  years  more,  where  the  soil  rests  on  a de- 
composable limestone  which  annually  gives  up  in  solu- 
tion to  the  soil  above  as  much  essential  mineral  plant 
food  as  may  be  removed  from  it  in  a judicious  system  of 
culture. 

The  great  extension  of  railroads,  under  the  liberal  do- 
nation of  public  lands  for  their  construction,  has  offered 
great  facilities  and  inducements  to  emigrants  to  occupy 
the  northwestern  territory.  The  railroad  companies 
have  spared  no  pains  to  bring  their  lands  into  the  mar- 
ket and  invite  settlers,  and  the  result  is,  that  this  broad 
prairie  country,  much  of  which,  previous  to  the  construc- 
tion of  these  railways,  was  believed  to  be  an  uninhabit- 
able desert,  is  now  covered  by  the  cities,  villages,  and 
habitations  of  an  energetic  and  prosperous  population, 
who  not  only  raise  grain  and  cattle  enough  for  home 
consumption,  but  actually  rule  the  provision  market  of 
Europe.  But  while  the  bounteous  productions  of  the 
virgin  prairie  soil  have  thus  made  the  older  countries 
tributary  to  the  present  wealth  of  ours,  the  gradual  di- 
minution of  the  annual  production  of  grain  per  acre  in 
the  older  settlements,  and  the  inevitable  shifting  of  the 
centre  of  greatest  grain  production  further  west  to  newer 
lands,  foreshadow  the  event. 

Topographical  conditions  in  Kentucky  combine  with 
the  geological  ones  to  enhance  the  value  of  her  soils  and 
promote  her  agriculture.  Taking  the  general  level  of 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  149 

the  territory  of  the  State,  and  disregarding  the  second- 
ary and  local  elevations  and  depressions,  it  presents  a 
gradual  slope  of  the  country,  from  the  highest  summits 
or  ridges  on  the  southeast,  where  some  of  these  waves 
of  the  Allegheny  range  attain  two  to  three  thousand 
feet  above  the  sea  level,  down  to  the  lowest  part  of  the 
State,  in  the  southwest  prolongation,  where  it  is  only 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  sea,  giving 
good  drainage,  and  a sufficient  fall  in  her  rivers. 

This  is  a most  important  consideration  to  the  agricul- 
turist. No  territory  on  the  whole  continent  is  better 
drained,  naturally,  than  that  of  Kentucky.  Every  tiller 
of  the  soil  is  aware  that  no  successful  cultivation  can  be 
carried  on  upon  an  imperfectly  drained  soil.  In  this  im- 
portant particular,  also,  is  Kentucky  soil  superior  to  that 
of  much  of  the  country  in  the  prairie  region  of  the  North- 
west, where  sloughs  and  ponds  and  little  lakes  often  in- 
terrupt the  continuity  of  profitable  cultivation,  and  pro- 
duce malaria. 

In  other  countries  and  States  great  expense  is  of  ne- 
cessity incurred  by  the  land-owner  in  rendering  his  soil 
productive  by  underdraining ; but  in  extensive  regions 
in  Kentucky,  where  some  of  her  richest  soils  rest  on 
limestone  beds,  nature  has  provided  a most  extensive 
system  of  underdraining ; so  that  in  the  Blue  Grass  Re- 
gion, so-called,  and  in  that  of  the  cavernous  sub-carbonif- 
erous limestone,  a swamp  or  slough  is  of  most  rare  oc- 
currence, and  artificial  underdraining  is  not  generally 
necessary  for  the  removal  of  surplus  surface  water. 
Moreover,  most  of  the  rivers  of  Kentucky  during  the 
long  ages  in  which  the  rock  strata  have  been  elevated 
above  the  sea,  have  worn  their  beds  down  far  below  the 
level  of  the  intervening  table  lands,  and  hence  natural 
drainage  is  almost  everywhere  good  and  sufficient. 


150  Proceedings  of  the 

Meteorological  conditions  in  Kentucky  are  also  quite 
favorable  to  agriculture.  The  annual  rain-fall  never 
falls  much  below  forty  inches,  and  sometimes  is  more 
than  fifty  inches,  in  which  respect  it  has  greatly  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  great  Northwest.  Here  the  warm  winds 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  mingling  with  the  colder  north- 
wardly winds,  are  made  to  deposit  their  moisture  in 
abundance,  with  only  occasional  droughts  in  the  hotter 
portion  of  the  year ; while  over  the  vast  unbroken  slope 
of  the  prairies  of  the  northwestern  country  the  air  cur- 
rents from  over  the  distant  oceans  give  out  but  a scanty 
supply  of  this  essential  fluid,  water,  and  as  we  go  farther 
and  farther  west,  even  this  gradually  fails,  so  that  the 
cultivator  of  the  ground  is  forced  to  rely  on  costly  irri- 
gation with  the  scanty  streams  derived  from  the  melting 
snow  on  the  mountain  ranges. 

This  ample  supply  of  water  on  Kentucky  soil  helped 
to  make  it  a timbered  country.  Even  now,  after  an  ex- 
tensive clearing  of  the  woods  here,  and  a great  waste  of 
what  would  be  at  this  time  most  valuable  timber,  a very 
large  area  of  the  State  is  covered  with  trees  of  ancient 
growth,  which  are  becoming  more  and  more  valuable. 
In  this  we  present  a great  contrast  with  the  prairie  re- 
gion ; there  the  new  settler,  even  recently,  has  fre- 
quently built  his  hut  out  of  the  prairie  sods,  or  the  herder 
on  the  plains  has  sheltered  himself  and  family  in  a hole 
or  cave  dug  out  of  the  slope  of  a hill ; here  the  first  set- 
tler finds  such  a surplus  of  timber  that  his  first  thought 
too  often  has  been  how  best  to  destroy  it.  This  system 
of  destruction  in  order  to  make  room  for  the  plow  or  the 
hoe,  is  now  no  longer  necessary,  when  some  single  wal- 
nut tree  on  the  out-lands  of  the  State  might  bring  the 
price  of  many  acres  of  the  land  on  which  it  stands.  Tim- 
ber is  now  rapidly  becoming  more  and  more  commer- 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 151 

dally  valuable,  and  as  our  railroads  and  other  means  of 
transportation  are  extended,  the  wanton  waste  of  our 
forests  will  cease.  But  forests  are  valuable  far  beyond 
their  money  value  for  timber ; they  exert  a marked  influ- 
ence on  rain-fall  by  aiding  the  mingling  of  air-currents 
which  cause  the  condensation  of  watery  vapor  and  the 
fall  of  rain,  as  well  as  by  the  collection  and  retention  of 
surface-water,  which  gradually  feeds  our  springs  and 
water-courses,  obviating  temporary  devastating  floods, 
and  keeping  up  a wholesome  equilibrium  of  irrigation 
and  moisture. 

Many  countries  which  now  are  arid  deserts,  because 
mainly  of  the  destruction  of  their  forests  rather  than  the 
exhaustion  of  their  soils,  were  formerly  well  watered, 
and  supported  a dense  population;  and  the  general 
knowledge  of  these  facts,  as  well  as  the  increasing  de- 
mand for,  and  value  of,  timber,  will  not  only  make  the 
present  extensive  woodlands  of  Kentucky  very  valuable, 
but  induce  her  intelligent  settlers  and  inhabitants  to 
adopt  a judicious  system  of  forestry,  which  will  supply 
to  the  present  and  following  generations  a sufficient  and 
constant  supply  of  timber,  as  well  as  conserve  the  climate 
and  productiveness  of  the  region.  This  cannot  too  early 
be  taken  into  earnest  consideration.  The  settlers  of  the 
prairie  region  have,  under  inducements  offered  by  the 
Government,  planted  out  an  immense  number  of  forest 
trees,  mostly,  however,  of  soft  woods  of  quick  growth, 
and  suited  to  the  soil  and  dry  climate ; but  hard  wood  is 
and  will  be  scarce  and  dear  in  that  region,  while  in  Ken- 
tucky hard  wood  is  native  to  the  soil,  and  easily  grown, 
and  will  always  be  valuable,  especially  on  the  cheaper 
lands  of  the  coal-measure  hills,  which  are  not  so  easily 
cultivated  with  the  plow  as  those  of  the  plains. 

The  tree-planting  which  has  been  done  on  the  arid 


152 


Proceedings  of  the 

Western  prairies  has  already  somewhat  improved  the 
climate,  and  increased  the  rain-fall,  so  that  the  common 
remark  of  the  uncultivated  Indian  is,  that  rain  follows 
the  white  man  wherever  he  goes. 

With  the  natural  advantages  presented  by  Kentucky, 
it  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  prices  of  her  lands 
are  yet  much  below  their  intrinsic  value,  even  when  com- 
pared with  those  of  the  cheap  lands  of  the  Northwest.* 
Many  causes,  which  we  will  not  particularize,  and  which 
we  hope  are  now  measurably  removed,  have  produced 
this  effect.  It  cannot  be  long,  however,  before  these 
advantages  will  begin  to  be  appreciated  ; and  with  an 
extension  of  our  internal  improvements  now  in  success- 
ful progress,  not  only  will  the  uncultivated  cheap  lands 
of  Kentucky  be  made  to  smile  with  harvests,  but  the  de- 
velopment of  her  unequaled  mineral  wealth  will  offer  an 
extensive  home  market  for  farm  products.  Perhaps  no 
part  of  the  United  States  offers  at  this  time  stronger 
natural  inducements  to  enlightened  settlers  from  other 
countries,  who  will  bring  energy,  skill,  or  capital  to  aid 
in  her  development,  than  does  Kentucky  at  this  present 
time. 

WHAT  CONDITIONS  IMMIGRANT  FARMERS  FROM  GREAT 
BRITAIN  MAY  FIND  IN  KENTUCKY. 

The  old  country  farmer  or  farm  laborer,  brought  up 
and  trained  under  certain  local  conditions  as  to  methods 
of  farming,  various  crops  and  social  customs,  must 
necessarily  become  a learner  in  some  respects  and  for  a 

'^Kentucky  is  practically  free  from  debt — owing  but  $180,000,  and  having  on 
deposit  that  amount  in  cash  to  pay  the  same — with  about  $750,000  of  valuable 
assets  in  addition.  The  State  taxation  is  45 yz  cents  on  each  $100,  on  a very  low 
valuation  of  property.  Of  this  amount  25  cents  is  for  the  purpose  of  revenue, 
20  cents  for  Public  Schools,  and  ]/z  cent  for  the  State  Agricultural  and  Mechan- 
ical College. — J.  R.  P. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  153 

time,  and  be  obliged  to  relinquish  some  old-established 
habits  of  life  and  of  management,  when  he  emigrates 
to  this  new  country.  Hence,  the  climate,  crops  and 
methods  of  farming  are,  in  some  respects,  different  from 
those  to  which  he  has  been  accustomed,  as  well  as  the 
habits  of  the  people. 

The  intelligent  and  educated  English  farmer,  however, 
will  find  this  but  a temporary  inconvenience.  He  can 
readily  learn  the  nature  of  our  peculiar  crops,  and  in  a 
short  time  acquire  from  the  native  farmers  the  modes 
of  husbandry  best  adapted  to  them.  To  him  there  will 
be  no  great  difficulty  in  laying  aside  for  a time  the  local 
prejudices  or  prepossessions  of  his  home  training,  and 
in  adapting  himself  to  the  new  conditions  of  this  country. 

Indeed,  after  a brief  apprenticeship  in  making  himself 
acquainted  with  our  different  climate,  icrops,  and  hus- 
bandry, he  may,  in  consequence,  perhaps,  of  his  wider 
experience  in  modern  scientific  agriculture,  find  himself 
able  to  improve  our  farm  methods,  and  to  become  a 
teacher  instead  of  a learner. 

Notwithstanding  the  local  differences  between  farming 
in  the  old  and  in  the  new  country,  many  farm  products 
are  necessarily  the  same  in  both.  Our  great  staple, 
Indian  corn  (maize),  it  is  true,  is  unknown  as  a crop  in 
Great  Britain,  and  hemp  and  tobacco,  great  staples 
here,  are  but  little  cultivated  ther  ; but  our  farm  animals 
are  just  the  same.  Horses,  mules,  sheep  and  hogs  are 
profitable  live  stock  here,  and  we  cultivate  the  same 
grasses,  and  raise  wheat,  barley,  rye  and  oats,  flax,  &c., 
here  as  they  do  in  Great  Britain. 

The  celebrated  “ Blue  Grass  ” of  the  rich  limestone 
region  of  Kentucky,  is  the  “ smooth-stalked  poa  or 
meadow  grass”  of  England  (Poa  p r a tens  is).  The  timo- 
thy or  herd  grass  (Phleum  pratense ),  the  orchard  grass 


i54 


Proceedings  of  the 

(Dactytus  glomerata ),  as  well  as  other  good  grasses 
grown  in  Great  Britain,  flourish  here,  and  the  clovers, 
especially  the  red  clover  ( Trifolium  pratense),  are  used 
with  great  advantage  on  all  our  soils  generally,  not  only 
for  pasturage  or  for  hay,  but  for  fertilization.  Our 
Indian  corn,  so  very  productive  here,  supersedes  many 
of  the  feeding  and  fattening  stuffs  of  England,  furnish- 
ing food  for  both  man  and  beast.  It  figures  largely 
amongst  our  farm  products,  and  takes  the  place  of 
many  of  the  minor  crops  of  the  older  country. 

The  knowledge  and  experience  of  the  intelligent 
English  farmer  in  the  management  of  the  soil  to  main- 
tain or  increase  its  productiveness  would  be  of  great 
value  in  this  region,  where  our  native  farmers  have 
much  to  learn  in  this  relation  ; and  his  skill  in  the  rais- 
ing and  management  of  live  stock  could  be  of  great 
service  to  him  here.  If  he  has  capital  enough  to  pur- 
chase a stock  farm  in  the  rich  “ Blue  Grass  ” region,  and 
to  stock  it  with  animals  of  improved  breed,  he  would, 
with  skillful  management,  find  a ready  and  profitable 
market  for  many  years  to  come.  The  Blue  Grass  soil, 
•quite  rich  in  phosphates,  produces  finer  horses  and 
better  cattle  and  hogs  than  almost  any  other  part  of 
our  territory,  and  requires  less  expenditure  for  fertilizers. 
Hence,  naturally,  it  is  held  at  a higher  price  than  the 
lands  on  the  other  geological  formations  generally,  and 
is  all  occupied  and  cultivated.  The  immigrant  with 
limited  capital  would  necessarily  look  for  cheaper  land, 
yet  in  the  forest,  in  the  less  closely  settled  portions  of 
the  State,  of  which  there  is  abundance  at  very  low 
prices  ; and  there,  as  already  stated,  the  native  timber 
on  the  land  may,  by  judicious  management,  be  made  a 
source  of  considerable  profit  to  him,  more  especially  if  it 
is  near  a railroad  or  other  means  of  cheap  transportation. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  155 

The  lands  even  of  the  hilly  regions  of  the  coal-forma- 
tion of  the  State  are  well-adapted  to  sheep  husbandry. 
Indian  corn  and  the  small  grains,  and  various  grasses, 
flax,  potatoes,  and  other  products,  may  be  profitably 
cultivated  in  the  valleys  and  on  the  table-lands,  and 
some  of  the  slopes  of  the  hills,  which  last-mentioned 
situations  are  also  well  adapted  to  apples,  peaches, 
pears,  grapes,  and  all  the  fruits  and  garden  products  of 
the  temperate  zone. 

The  new  country,  however,  requires  adaptation  on 
the  part  of  the  cultivator  to  the  new  conditions,  as 
already  mentioned,  and  the  pioneer  farmer  must  expect 
to  turn  his  hand  to  many  things  which  do  not  need  his 
attention  in  his  old  home  country,  as  well  as  to  lay  aside 
some  of  the  old  habits  and  customs  in  which  he  has 
been  trained  from  his  youth  upward.  But  the  grand 
compensation  to  him  will  be,  if  he  is  a good  manager 
and  of  industrious  habits,  that  he  may  become  a fee- 
simple  freeholder  of  landed  and  other  property,  which 
will  annually  become  more  valuable,  in  a free  country 
of  equal  rights  and  very  moderate  taxation  ; and  if  he 
is  near  a market,  his  farming  and  gardening  may  not 
only  give  ample  support  to  his  family,  but  yield  a good 
and  increasing  income. 

The  English  farm  laborer,  accustomed  to  earn  a very 
scanty  pittance  at  home  by  daily  labor,  not  having  en- 
joyed the  advantages  of  much  early  education,  and  hav- 
ing probably  been  trained  on  the  farm  to  one  special 
kind  of  labor  only,  may  perhaps  find  it  more  difficult 
than  will  the  capitalist  or  the  renter  to  adapt  himself  to 
the  new  conditions  of  this  country.  But  if  he  is  a man 
of  good  common  sense  and  morals,  and  is  not  too  old  to 
learn,  and  is  willing  to  be  taught,  he  may  very  greatly 
improve  his  own  condition  here,  and  leave  his  children 


156  Proceedings  of  the 

the  patrimony  of  an  improved  social  position,  obtained 
by  improved  early  education  and  an  increase  of  his 
worldly  goods.  If  he  has  no  capital  but  his  ability  to 
labor  and  the  farm  training  he  has  received,  he  may 
readily  find  profitable  employment  on  the  richer  lands 
of  the  State  in  taking  charge  of  live  stock  and  in  the 
common  work  of  the  farm ; or,  if  he  be  a trustworthy 
man  and  a good  farmer,  he  may  either  rent  land  or  cul- 
tivate on  the  shares.  It  is  true  he  may  be  obliged  to 
give  up  some  of  his  old  time-honored  habits  and  cus- 
toms, and  learn  to  do  many  things  he  never  was  re- 
quired to  do  at  home  ; but  he  will  soon  find,  if  he  is  not 
too  intensely  wedded  to  the  old  notions  peculiar  to  his 
own  country,  that  he  is  more  than  doubly  paid  for  the 
change  by  the  greater  advantages  and  profits  of  his  new 
situation.  His  daily  beer,  considered  a sine  qua  non  by 
the  English  farm  laborer,  may  not  at  all  times  be  at 
hand  for  him  here,  but  his  daily  ample  meal  of  meat  will 
soon  enable  him  to  forget  its  absence ; and  moreover, 
he  may  find  his  head  dearer  and  his  body  more  healthy 
and  strong  under  the  daily  meat  diet  than  with  the  daily 
use  of  malt  liquor.  But,  above  all  other  considerations, 
we  would  place  that  of  his  ability  to  greatly  improve  the 
condition  of  his  family,  and  to  leave  his  children  citizens 
of  a republic  in  which  labor  is  honorable  and  all  men 
equal  in  their  civil  and  political  rights. 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


157 


LOUISIANA.  . 


Those  desiring  information  regarding  the  Agricultu- 
ral Resources  and  Industrial  Interests  of  Louisiana,  will 
please  address 

Hon.  W.  H.  HARRIS, 

Commissioner , 

New  Orleans,  La. 


Proceedings  of  the 


158 


MISSISSIPPI. 


ADDRESS  OF  THE  HON.  CHARLES  E.  HOOKER,  OF  JACKSON. 


Gentlemen  of  the  Convention: — I am  gratified  to  find 
that  while  I was  most  hospitably  entertained  by  some 
good  citizens  of  Nashville,  and  with  them  and  the  Con- 
vention I was  gratefully  and  instructively  entertained, 
and  I trust  there  will  be  no  necessity  to  detain  you  by 
anything  like  an  extended  address,  but  as  it  was  an- 
nounced, yesterday,  I would  say  something  to-night,  I 
do  not  feel  that  I should  decline  to  do  so.  It  was  said 
by  the  Chief  Justice  of  England,  according  to  the  high- 
est judicature  of  the  land,  that  every  country  had  its 
aristocracy  ; that  his  own  land  had  its  hereditary  aris- 
tocracy, and  the  aristocracy  of  this  country  is  the  aris- 
tocracy of  intelligence.  This  is  a land  of  freedom  and 
liberty.  But  .there  is  no  higher  order  of  aristocracy  in 
this  country  than  that  of  intelligence  ; it  is  that  of  the 
aristocracy  of  labor,  and  this  is  universally  acknowl- 
edged. There  was  a time  in  the  South  when  men  in- 
herited fortunes  and  when  men  could  live  in  idleness, 
but  that  time  has  passed.  In  Mississippi  there  are  no 
longer  any  rich  people,  and  if  there  be  rich  people,  you 
can  count  them  on  your  fingers.  The  war  left  us  poor. 
The  young  man  was  most  honored  and  best  respected 
and  holds  the  highest  rank  who  feels  that  it  is  his  high- 
est privilege  to  use  his  bone  and  muscle,  sinew  and 
brain-work  for  his  father  and  mother,  younger  brothers 
and  sisters,  and  his  wife  and  little  ones.  [Applause.]  It 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 159 

was  right,  therefore,  to  say  that  there  was  an  aristocrat 
in  the  country,  and  that  man  has  passed  who  feels  that 
it  is  disgraceful  to  labor.  Everyone  should  feel  it  his 
duty  and  privilege  to  work.  In  order  to  attain  the  high- 
est excellence  in  manhood,  the  physical  and  mental  pow- 
ers should  be  exercised  to  the  best  possible  advantage. 
Of  all  industries  the  prime  order  was  the  pursuit  of  agri- 
culture. It  was  the  original  pursuit  of  man,  and  follow- 
ing this  was  mechanism  and  some  other  departments  of 
science.  The  earth  has  a wonderful  power  of  fecundity, 
and  the  natural  pursuit  of  man  is  the  cultivation  of  lands. 
Nine-tenths  of  the  population  all  over  the  Southern  States 
till  the  soil,  and  nine-tenths  of  other  States  are  depend- 
ent upon  the  agriculturists.  We  are  sometimes  told 
that  commerce  is  a monarch ; but  commerce,  as  wonder- 
ful as  it  is,  powerful  in  its  effects  on  mankind,  would 
would  be  a monarch  without  a subject  to  obey  its 
behests  if  it  were  not  for  agriculture  to  furnish  products 
for  transportation.  If  the  earth  were  not  planted  in  due 
season,  railroads  nor  steamers  would  prosper,  because 
they  have  to  have  something  to  deal  with  ; then  your 
magnificent  docks  on  the  Atlantic  coast  would  rot,  and 
the  vast  carrying  trade,  the  one-fifth  power,  would  sink 
and  be  eaten  up  by  the  barnacles  of  the  sea.  It  is,  there- 
fore, upon  the  intelligent  cultivation  of  the  earth  that  all 
are  dependent.  Of  all  this  beautiful  city  of  Nashville, 
not  one  brick  would  have  been  put  upon  another,  and 
not  one  stone  would  have  been  carved  from  the  quarry 
to  build  your  magnificent  capitol,  in  which  I now  stand, 
but  for  the  fertile  soil  that  lies  around  about  you.  It  is, 
therefore,  the  first  great  pursuit  of  mankind — that  of  ag- 
riculture. It  is  to  the  great  interest  of  the  Southern  peo- 
ple to  build  it  up ; to  restore  the  soil  that  it  may  be  rich 
in  its  fruitage.  We  cannot  live  without  it.  You  may 


160  Proceedings  of  the 

take  the  richest  lump  of  gold  that  comes  from  California 
or  Australia — take  the  richest  emerald  that  glitters  in 
crowns  of  the  monarchs  of  the  old  world — and  drop  it  into 
the  soil,  and  it  will  remain  buried,  useless  and  unproduc- 
tive. But  take  a grain  of  wheat  or  corn,  and,  obeying 
the  law  of  the  Great  Master,  it  rots  and  from  its  corpus 
springs  a germinal  faculty.  Out  of  this  corruptions 
comes  forth  a spray  of  grass  and  blest  with  rain  and 
sunshine  from  the  heavens,  its  beautiful  silk,  and  yet  lit- 
tle later  its  golden  tassel,  grain  is  produced,  it  is  crushed, 
is  finally  made  into  bread  to  make  in  turn  the  muscle, 
bone  and  sinew  to  cultivate  the  seed  again.  It  is  a natu- 
ral pursuit  of  the  world  to  cultivate  the  soil,  and  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  conceive  of  its  vast  extent.  Originally  our  popu- 
lation inhabited  a small  slope  along  the  Atlantic,  but  the 
tide  of  immigration  set  in  towards  the  West,  it  passed 
on  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  still  further  west  to  the 
golden  shores  of  the  Pacific.  The  population  had  in- 
creased to  three  millions,  but  now  we  have  a population 
of  fifty  millions.  We  have  grown  to  an  enormous  ex- 
tent in  our  money  power,  we  are  vast  in  population, 
covering  this  great  and  extensive  country.  We  want 
a solution  of  the  question  upon  which  the  peo- 
ple, who  may  come  South,  may  depend  upon  for  sup- 
port. The  South  needs  more  people.  We  have  two 
problems — how  to  utilize  and  make  valuable  the  broad 
acres  we  have,  and  how  we  shall  increase  the  population 
and  increase  the  resources  of  agriculture,  to  make  cheap 
and  accessible  the  lands  of  the  country? 

Since  the  war,  we  in  the  Southern  States  have  labored 
under  the  most  extraordinary  difficulties.  Our  popula- 
tion was  almost  destroyed  by  the  war,  property  was  de- 
stroyed by  it.  When  that  dreadful  conflict  closed  we 
had  scarcely  anything  left  except  our  lands,  but  thank 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  161 

God  they  could  not  be  burned  up,  and  there  is  life  in  the 
old  land  yet  if  we  have  but  the  energy  to  make  it  so. 

It  was  once  asked  of  a distinguished  gentleman  of  the 
English  Parliament,  how  he  proposed  to  accomplish  a 
certain  great  object.  Said  he,  “I  will  accomplish  it  by 
combining,  confederating  and  co-operating.”  They  are 
the  magic  words  of  success  in  all  modern  enterprises. 
Combination,  co-operation  and  confederation  have  given 
to  our  most  prosperous  citizens  of  the  northeastern 
country  power,  prosperity  and  wonderful  wealth.  We  of 
the  South  are  born  agriculturists,  doing  work  after  the 
manner  of  our  forefathers.  It  is  an  independent  life, 
but  it  is  a life  which  can  be  more  greatly  assured  and 
promoted  by  combination,  co-operation  and  confedera- 
tion. This  is  a necessity.  The  old  planter  had  a small 
empire  in  his  own  grasp  and  under  his  own  control.  But 
we  of  the  South  are  to-day  prostrated  financially  because 
we  never  would  combine,  co-operate  or  confederate.  It 
would  be  hard  to  estimate  the  future  prosperity  of  the 
South,  were  we  to  work  in  unison — its  wonderful  re- 
sources would  be  developed  and  we  would  all  grow  rich. 

Great  syndicates  have  gone  West  from  lands  which 
had  an  agricultural  and  commercial  value,  and  invested 
their  money,  lifted  people  out  of  debt  and  despondency, 
and  the  same  thing  could  be  accomplished  in  the  South. 
The  East  was  built  up  in  the  same  way.  Only  from  six 
to  eight  per  cent  was  paid  on  the  money  invested,  and  yet 
we  of  the  South  pay  fifty-four  per  cent,  when  our  markets 
could  be  made  as  good  as  any  other;  we  have  the  re- 
sources if  we  will  but  develop  them.  By  combination, 
co-operation  and  confederation  we  could  enter  the  mar- 
kets and  get  money  at  six  per  cent. 

We  want  more  laborers,  and  more  certain  labor.  The 
great  difficulty  under  which  we  labor  from  the  first  to 


162 


Proceedings  of  the 

the  last  day  of  the  week,  is  very  different  from  that  in 
the  East.  There  no  man  expects  to  make  food  for  his 
family  without  working  for  it.  As  cotton  producers  we 
are  dependent  upon  a population  who  work  when  they 
want  to.  We  want  some  sort  of  legislation  in  every 
State  which  shall  control  the  relations  between  capital 
and  labor  upon  a just  and  equitable  basis.  Make  your 
laws  as  stringent  as  you  want,  but  give  to  the  landlord  a 
remedy  by  which  he  will  be  able  to  enforce  the  contract 
upon  the  party  contracting  to  work  for  him  in  the  year. 
When  the  girls  walked  into  a New  England  manufac- 
tory and  did  not  go  to  work  they  did  not  get  any  money. 
Is  it  wrong,  therefore,  that  we  should  demand  that 
we  should  have  legislation  which  should  protect  both 
capital  and  labor?  ‘According  to  the  census  the  colored 
population  has  increased,  but  I do  not  produce  but  one- 
third  on  my  own  plantation  as  I did  twenty  years  ago, 
through  want  of  proper  legislation.  The  agricultural 
question  in  Mississippi  must  change,  because  the  pres- 
ent population  is  becoming  bankrupt.  We  do  not  only 
want  capital  but  labor  protected.  We  want  to  give 
those  who  own  the  land  and  implements,  and  the  laborer, 
equal  protection. 

During  Congress  I was  invited  to  Boston  by  a club  of 
gentlemen  who  gave  a banquet  at  which  twelve  hun- 
dred persons  were  present.  It  fell  to  my  lot  to  go  to  the 
supper  table  with  some  of  the  original  manufacturers. 
In  the  progress  of  the  evening  I was  called  on  to  make  a 
speech,  in  which  I said:  “Now,  gentlemen,  I want  to 
serve  notice  on  you  to-night  that  the  South  intends  to 
erect  manufactories  and  compete  with  you  in  the  coarser 
fabrics/’  Mr.  Lawrence  said:  “We  only  wonder  why 
you  did  not  serve  this  notice  long  ago.  So  satisfied  are 
we  of  what  you  have,  that  we  have  absolutely  changed 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 163 

our  manchinery  only  for  the  manufacture  of  the  finer 
fabrics  to  yield  to  you  the  natural  industries/’ 

One  of  the  most  prosperous  regions  in  New  England 
and  old  England,  where  the  food  producer  found  a ready 
market,  manufactories  and  agriculture  go  side  by  side, 
step  by  step,  and  both  flourish.  The  South  is  the  largest 
cotton  producer  in  the  world.  The  county  just  above 
our  capitol  took  the  first  prize  at  the  World’s  Fair  in 
London.  We  have  a country  more  fruitful  than  any- 
where in  the  world,  but  we  need  capital  at  a rate  of  in- 
terest that  will  pay  the  land  owner  to  invest.  We  want 
immigration.  We  have  been  in  the  habit  of  getting  it 
from  the  old  world  largely  directed  into  Canada,  then 
into  New  York,  and  thence,  by  the  use  of,  capital,  into 
the  West.  From  Castle  Garden  immigrants  have  been 
induced  to  travel  westward  and  to  occupy  lands  which 
can  only  be  fruitful  by  irrigation. 

When  Salt  Lake  City  was  established  and  had  a popu- 
lation of  between  25,000  and  30,000,  they  found  that 
water  was  a great  necessity,  and  by  combined  effort  they 
brought  it  from  the  mountains,  and  a vast  extent  of 
country  was  made  fertile  and  brought  forth  fruit.  But 
what  opportunities  had  the  South  to  become  great  and 
prosperous  ? Everything  ! It  only  needs  development. 
Its  rich  resources  are  illimitable.  We  want  skill,  and 
knowledge,  and  energy,  from  whatever  direction  it  may 
come.  We  want  to  show  immigrants  what  this  country 
is,  and  the  grand  results  which  may  be  attained  by  in- 
dustrious labor.  There  is  not  a spot  of  earth  on  the 
Mississippi,  from  New  Orleans  up,  where  one  cannot 
support  his  family  with  reasonable  labor.  The  soil  is 
rich,  and  all  it  needs  is  the  proper  cultivation  to  put  a 
man  and  his  family  in  comfortable  circumstances.  The 
climate  is  everything  that  could  be  expected,  and  this 


164  Proceedings  of  the 

is  generally  appreciated  by  those  who  come  from  the 
cold  regions  of  the  North. 

The  importance  of  this  organization  is  to  make  capi- 
tal flow  into  the  South. 

The  first  great  World’s  Exposition,  at  London,  gave 
to  Mississippi  the  prize  for  the  best  bale  of  cotton  ; the 
World’s  Exposition,  at  Paris,  France,  did  the  same 
thing,  and  our  Centennial  Exposition,  of  1876,  awarded 
the  prize  to  Mississippi. 

At  Louisville,  last  year,  the  States  of  Florida  and 
Tennessee  were  magnificently  represented  by  an  expo- 
sition of  products  that  was  hard  to  equal.  The  exposi- 
tion of  Southern  products  at  New  Orleans  will  be  one  of 
the  grandest  ever  held  upon  this  continent.  It  will 
probably  have  the  effect  to  do  more  good  for  the  whole 
South  than  it  was  ever  before  presented  to  the  world  ; 
and  it  will  be  the  means  of  introducing  into  the  South 
more  capital  and  people  than  was  ever  before  known,  and 
this  will  do  much  toward  making  us  a great  and  pros- 
perous people. 

I do  not  care  where  the  immigration  comes  from — 
whether  it  be  from  the  East,  North,  West,  or  from  the 
old  country.  Many  of  the  people  of  the  Northwestern 
States  have  come  South  and  established  themselves  in 
permanent  homes,  and  have  found  great  and  wonderful 
returns  for  their  labor.  One  of  them  was  asked  how 
he  liked  his  location.  “ Very  well,”  said  he  ; “ this  year, 
on  a single  acre  of  land,  I made  a crop  which  cleared 
me  $ 900 . 

A great  deal  has  been  said  about  railroads.  They 
are  great  engines  of  civilization.  About  fifty-three 
years  ago  the  first  railroad  constructed  in  the  world  was 
between  Liverpool  and  Manchester.  It  was  the  work 
of  the  engineering  skill  of  Stephenson,  who  proposed 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 165 

to  run  a train  over  it  at  the  rate  of  4 y2  miles  per  hour, 
the  rate  of  speed  usually  made  by  a stage  coach.  Lord 
Brown,  of  the  House  of  Lords,  insisted  upon  an  investi- 
gation of  the  project,  and  Stephenson  was  called  before 
the  members  of  Parliament.  Stephenson  claimed  that 
he  believed  he  could  run  a train  at  the  rate  of  eight  or 
nine  miles  per  hour.  Brown  said  he  thought  the  plan 
must  be  reasonable.  If  Stephenson  had  told  them  he 
could  run  a train  at  a rate  of  speed  of  twenty  miles  an 
hour  they  would  have  taken  him  for  a lunatic,  and  a fit 
subject  for  a lunatic  asylum.  He  was  asked  by  one  of 
the  members  of  the  committee  what  would  be  the 
result  if,  while  the  train  was  running  at  the  rate  of  eight 
or  nine  miles  an  hour,  a cow  should  get  on  the  track  ? 
This  was  rather  an  awkward  question  to  answer,  and 
one  of  the  members  of  the  committee  said  he  ought  to 
be  inhibited  from  the  construction  of  either  an  engine 
or  railroad.  But  how  wonderful  has  been  the  change  ! 
There  are  now  railroads  all  over  that  country.  There 
are  railroads  in  this  country  running  from  ocean  to 
ocean.  They  are  the  great  highways  of  travel  and 
transportation.  They  move  immigrants  as  well  on  land 
as  vessels  do  on  water.  You  cannot,  therefore,  dispense 
with  them.  There  should  be  no  hostility  between  pro- 
ducer and  railroads.  There  ought  to  be  a homogeneity 
of  interests  between  common  carriers  and  the  people  ; 
neither  should  there  be  any  hostility  nor  invidious  dis- 
tinctions. These  highways  are  the  engines  of  civiliza- 
tion. 

We  welcome  immigration  from  across  the  waters, 
from  the  far  lands  of  Spain,  Germany — in  fact,  from  the 
whole  of  Europe.  Let  it  all  come,  we  will  welcome  it. 
There  is  a simulation,  a homogeneity,  in  this  country, 
which  makes  every  man  an  American  citizen.  This  is 


1 66  Proceedings  of  the 

a wonderful  homogeneity.  We  should  receive  cordially 
and  heartily  this  immigration  which  shall  be  invited  to 
locate  with  us,  because  it  will  embody  itself  with  this 
great  American  people.  Let  it  come  as  the  waters 
from  the  mountain  side. 

I think  it  is  our  duty  to  go  to  work  and  develop  all 
our  resources,  and  it  will  not  be  long  before  the  South 
will  attain  a position  in  the  estimation  of  all  peoples 
that  shall  be  most  enviable.  I thank  you  for  your  kind 
attention. 

President  McWhirter  moved  that  the  Convention 
tender  General  Hooker  a vote  of  thanks  for  his  admira- 
ble address,  and  it  was  unanimously  carried. 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


167 


NORTH  CAROLINA, 


Those  desiring  information  regarding  the  Agricultural 
and  Mineral  Resources  of  North  Carolina,  will  please 
address 

Hon.  M.  McGEE, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 


Proceedings  of  the 


168 


SOUTH  CAROLINA. 


ADDRESS  OF  HON.  A.  P.  BUTLER,  COMMISSIONER  OF 
AGRICULTURE. 


The  President  of  the  Association  has  assigned  to  me 
the  task  of  presenting  a view  of  the  “ Resources  of 
South  Carolina.’’  No  more  agreeable  duty  could  have 
been  given  me,  for  the  State  pride  of  a South  Caro- 
linian is  proverbial,  and  I share  with  the  rest  of  my  peo- 
ple the  unbounded  love  for  our  grand  old  home.  But 
able  gentlemen  have  eloquently  shown  the  wealth  and 
attractions  of  their  States,  and  it  may  therefore  be 
difficult  for  me  to  interest  those  in  ours  who  have  never 
examined  for  themselves  the  wonderful  resources  of  the 
Palmetto  State.  I shall  endeavor  to  be  brief  and  con- 
fine myself  to  facts  ; knowing  that  they  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  impress  every  one  with  our  importance,  without 
resorting  to  flights  of  fancy  or  indulging  in  imaginative 
theories. 

The  area  of  South  Carolina  is  estimated  at  about 
30,000  square  miles,  and  yet  within  this  limited  extent 
of  territory  is  embraced  almost  every  variety  of  climate 
and  soil,  and  every  crop  necessary  for  the  comfort  of 
man  can  be  cheaply  and  successfully  grown.  In  the 
Alpine  region  of  the  State,  the  climate  corresponds 
with  “that  of  Montana,  or  the  lower  region  of  the 
great  lakes.”  “ Blessed  with  an  unusual  number  of  clear 
days  and  a large  amount  of  sunshine,  the  fig  tree 
thrives  here  without  protection,  at  an  elevation  of  1,500 
feet  above  the  sea.”  In  this  region  the  hardiest  cereals 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  169 

reach  perfection,  while  the  white  and  the  red  clover 
grow  luxuriantly,  and  together  with  the  other  native 
grasses  afford  most  excellent  pasturage  for  live  stock 
during  many  months  of  the  year.  The  climate  of  the 
Middle  Country  is  a most  delightful  temperature,  and 
this  section  of  the  State  produces  all  the  staple  crops, 
cotton,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  barley,  potatoes,  and 
other  vegetables  and  fruits  in  variety  and  abundance. 

Of  the  Coast  region  and  lower  portion  of  the  State, 
a most  competent  authority  says  : “ Vegetation  is  usually 
checked  by  cold  for  not  more  than  six  weeks  in  the 
year,  from  the  middle  of  December  to  the  first  of 
February.  Nature,  that  does  not  allow  the  inhabitants 
of  higher  latitudes  to  become  purely  agricultural  in 
their  pursuits,  forcing  them,  during  the  snows  and  ice  of 
winter,  to  seek  occupation  in  other  arts  and  industries, 
here  bares  her  bosom  the  year  round  to  furnish  food 
and  work  for  man,  and  seed-time  and  harvest  occur  in 
every  month.”  In  this  balmy  atmosphere  the  orange 
and  the  olive  tree  flourish  ; figs,  strawberries  and  other 
fruits  grow  abundantly,  and  almost  all  vegetables  are 
produced  in  profusion,  and  many  hundred  dollars  worth 
of  them  annually  shipped  to  northern  markets. 

In  the  Mountain  section  of  the  State  are  many  de- 
lightful summer  retreats,  where  the  people  from  the 
lower  and  warmer  sections  can  find  pleasant,  health- 
giving  resorts  for  the  summer  months,  without  getting 
far  from  their  homes  and  business.  The  most  notable 
being  Caesar’s  Head,  in  Greenville  county,  which  is  1,318 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  In  Spartanburg  county 
are  situated  Glenn  Springs,  the  waters  of  which  are 
celebrated  for  their  mineral  properties  and  curative 
powers.  They  are  resorted  to  by  invalids  from  all 
sections  of  the  South  ; and  the  waters  are  now  sent  to 


170 


Proceedings  of  the 

and  used  in  nearly  every  State  of  the  Union.  Aiken, 
in  Middle  Carolina,  has  for  many  years  been  a famous 
health  resort  for  invalids  suffering  from  pulmonary  and 
bronchial  affections,  not  only  from  our  Northern  States, 
but  from  Canada  and  Europe  ; while  Beaufort  and  Sulli- 
van’s Island  are  fast  growing  in  importance  as  sea-side 
resorts. 

Although  not  regarded  as  a mineral  State,  South 
Carolina  possesses  some  very  valuable  deposits  of  silver, 
gold,  copper  and  iron  ore,  some  of  which  have  yielded 
handsome  returns  for  the  labor  and  money  expended 
on  them.  We  have  also  bismuth,  limestone,  barytes, 
manganese,  graphite,  feldspar  and  asbestos  in  paying 
quantities,  and  the  ores  and  minerals  of  lesser  value  are 
found  in  all  of  the  upper  counties. 

The  forests  of  our  State  consist  of  the  most  valuable 
woods,  and  the  timber  resources  are  practically  inexhaust- 
ible. Of  the  most  prominent  growth,  we  have  the  pine, 
the  poplar,  live  oak,  palmetto,  magnolia,  sweet  and  black 
gum,  bays,  white  oak,  black  walnut,  the  elm,  hickory 
and  cypress,  besides  many  other  varieties.  Thousands 
of  feet  of  the  yellow  pine  are  cut  and  exported  to 
Europe  annually ; and  large  quantities  of  walnut  are 
being  shipped  to  northern  manufacturers  of  furniture. 
The  great  value  of  our  timbers  has  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  capitalists,  and  large  investments  in  timber  lands 
have  been  made  in  the  State. 

The  water-power  of  South  Carolina  will  doubtless  in 
a few  years  be  the  means  of  developing  the  other 
resources  of  the  State,  as  investments  made  in  manufac- 
turing enterprises  will  cause  capital  to  flow  into  the 
State,  which  will  seek  and  find  investment  in  other 
enterprises. 

The  available  water-power  of  the  State  is  estimated 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  171 

at  one  million  of  horse-power ; and  it  is  stated  by  one 
fully  informed  on  this  subject,  that  “this  is  about  eighty 
per  cent  of  all  the  water-powers  now  in  use  in  manu- 
facturing throughout  the  United  States.  It  is  about 
seven  times  the  amount  of  water-power  employed  in  the 
United  States  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods,  and 
nearly  four  times  the  steam  and  water-power  together 
so  employed.  It  is  sufficient  to  move  all  the  cotton 
factories,  grist  and  flour  mills,  and  saw  mills  now  worked 
by  water  throughout  the  entire  country.” 

The  average  cost  per  horse-power  of  water-power  in 
South  Carolina  is  estimated  at  $1.70  per  annum,  while 
the  average  cost  in  six  of  the  well-known  manufacturing 
points  in  the  country  is  $17.92  per  horse-power.  This 
shows  a wonderful  difference  in  favor  of  our  State,  and 
furnishes  abundant  reason  for  our  hope  that  manufac- 
turing enterprises  will  soon  be  inaugurated  on  every 
stream  in  South  Carolina. 

Our  phosphate  mines  are  the  wonder  of  the  world. 
While  enriching  the  poor  lands  of  the  entire  South, 
bringing  the  barren  hill-sides  up  to  a fertility  equivalent 
to  the  alluvial  bottoms  of  the  Mississippi,  or  the  delta 
of  the  Nile,  these  mines  have  poured  a million  dollars 
into  the  State  treasury,  and  brought  millions  into  the 
State  for  investment.  And  the  area  covered  by  these 
phosphate  deposits  is  comparatively  very  small,  and 
only  a minimum  portion  of  that  has  been  developed, 
but  it  has  been  sufficient  to  place  many  of  the  larger 
States  under  obligations  to  South  Carolina,  and  has 
furnished  the  civilized  world  with  “ the  chief  part  of  all 
the  phosphate  of  lime  used  in  the  manufacture  of  com- 
mercial fertilizers.”  A compilation  just  made  by  the 
Charleston  News  and  Courier,  shows  that  there  are 
sixteen  land  companies  engaged  in  mining  rock,  that 


172 


Pi'oceedings  of  the 

have  a capital  $2,000,000,  and  employ  3,000  hands, 
In  addition  to  these,  there  are  six  river  companies,  with 
a capital  of  about  $1,500,000,  making  $3,500,000  in- 
vested in  phosphate  mining.  Besides,  there  are  the 
wealthy  fertilizer  factories,  manufacturing  large  quanti- 
ties of  the  rock  ; these  are  the  outcome  of  the  phosphate 
mining.  There  has  been  mined  and  shipped  since  the 
discovery  of  the  South  Carolina  deposits,  1,078,000 
tons  of  river  rock,  and  1,211,830  tons  of  land  rock. 

This  amount,  at  the  very  moderate  average  of  six 
dollars  per  ton,  has  given  to  the  State  the  large  amount 
of  $13,740,000,  of  which  amount  the  entire  State  has 
been  benefited  by  a royalty  of  $1,078,170. 

The  cost  of  production  per  ton  varies.  It  is  estimated 
at  $4.50,  including  the  payment  of  royalty  and  other 
expenses. 

One  hundred  thousand  tons  of  crude  rock  are  annually 
consumed  by  the  fertilizer  manufactories  of  South  Caro- 
lina. 

The  value  of  the  phosphate  annually  mined  is 
$2,100,000. 

The  royalty  paid  the  State  in  1883  was  $130,146.42, 
being  one  dollar  per  ton  paid  as  moved  by  the  marine 
companies. 

As  stated  above,  the  taxes  levied  on  product  of  land 
companies,  and  the  heavy  tax  on  fertilizer  manufacturers, 
are  exclusive  of  this  large  amount  of  revenue. 

I have  mentioned  our  magnificent  water-powers,  and 
will  hereafter  speak  of  our  harbors  ; but  while  our 
rivers  are  so  valuable  in  this  respect,  they  are  also  easily 
made  navigable,  and  will  always  exert  a conservative 
influence  on  railroad  management  in  South  Carolina,  as 
they  could  soon  be  made  to  render  efficient  transporta- 
tion service.  Many  of  these  streams  rise  within  our 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  173 

borders  and  flow  entirely  through  the  State,  emptying 
themselves  in  the  ocean  that  washes  our  shores.  They 
are,  therefore,  entirely  under  our  control  from  their 
sources  to  their  mouths. 

South  Carolina  was  the  first  State  in  America  to 
introduce  rice  ; and  its  cultivation  has  continued,  the 
production  increasing  and  decreasing,  and  varying 
from  one  season  to  another,  until  the  State  now  pro- 
duces one-half  of  the  crop  of  the  United  States. 

South  Carolina  made  the  first  exportation  of  cotton 
from  America,  and  while  this  experiment  was  not  suc- 
cessful, it  laid  the  foundation  for  the  immense  business 
that  has  since  developed,  and  caused  the  general  culti- 
vation of  this  crop,  which,  for  many  y.ears,  made  the 
South,  in  some  respects,  the  most  powerful  section  of 
the  Union. 

^ It  is  believed  that  the  cotton  gin  was  invented  in  South 
Carolina,  and  this  claim  has  much  evidence  to  sustain 
it.  We  are  now  about  to  present  to  the  world  the  first 
and  only  successful  cotton  picker.  The  oldest  railroad 
of  its  length  in  the  world  is  the  South  Carolina  Rail- 
way, from  Charleston,  S.  C.,  to  Augusta,  Ga. 

The  first  bale  of  sea  island  cotton  was  raised  on  Hil- 
ton Head  in  1790.  The  only  bale  of  jute  bagging  ever 
manufactured  in  America  from  home-grown  jute,  was 
made  by  the  Charleston  Bagging  Factory,  from  jute 
grown  in  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  by  a colored  man  in  1881. 

A gentleman  who  has  recently  given  much  thought 
to  South  Carolina’s  resources  and  their  development, 
says:  “The  finest,  as  food  for  man,  of  all  the  known 
varieties  of  corn,  is  the  white  flint  corn,  peculiar  to  the 
sea  islands.” 

The  finest  cotton  ever  produced  is  the  long  staple  cot- 
ton of  Edisto  Island,  which  has  sold  for  $ 2.00  per  pound 


1 74 


Proceedings  of  the 

when  other  cottons  were  bringing  only  nine  cents.  Car- 
olina rice  leads  the  list  in  the  quotations  of  that  article 
in  all  the  markets  of  the  world.  Not  only  has  its  yield 
and  culture  been  brought  to  the  highest  perfection 
here,  but  mankind  are  indebted  to  the  planters  of  this 
coast  for  the  mechanical  inventions  by  which  the  pre- 
paration of  this  great  food-stuff,  instead  of  being  the 
most  costly  and  laborious,  is  made  one  of  the  easiest 
and  cheapest. 

Dr.  Parker,  on  his  farm  near  Columbia,  made  from 
one  acre  of  land  200  bushels  and  three  pecks  of  corn. 
This  is  probably  the  largest  yield  known  of  any  grain. 

Many  sections  of  South  Carolina  are  admirably  adapt- 
ed to  stock-raising,  and  this  industry  is  assuming  con- 
siderable proportions.  There  are  now  thirteen  stock 
farms  in  the  State,  where  Jerseys,  Ayrshires,  Hols- 
teins  and  Devons  are  successfully  and  profitably  bred  ; 
and  at  our  last  State  Fair  above  80  thoroughbred  Jer- 
seys were  exhibited.  Much  attention  is  also  given  to 
horse-raising  and  sheep-husbandry.  At  the  last  session 
of  the  Legislature  a charter  was  granted  to  a company 
to  be  known  as  the  “Norman  Percheron  Horse  Com- 
pany/’ and  its  purpose  is  to  rear  this  breed  of  horses.  In 
every  instance  where  land-owners  have  engaged  in  stock- 
raising  they  have  met  with  the  very  best  results. 

To  show  what  we  have  accomplished  in  grass  cul- 
ture, I quote  the  following  from  the  Hand-Book  of  the 
State : 

“In  1801  Colonel  Hill,  of  York  county,  made  48  tons 
of  red  clover  on  eighteen  acres  of  land,  although  Gov- 
ernor Drayton  says  the  season  was  a very  dry  one.  For 
several  years  past  Governor  Hagood  has  obtained  two 
cuttings  a year  of  excellent  hay  from  fifty  arces,  and 
more,  that  he  has  set  out  in  Bermuda  grass,  on  the  Sa- 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 175 

luda  river  bottoms.  The  yield  is  two  to  four  tons  per 
acre.  Mr.  Doty,  a Kentuckian,  who  owns  a blue-grass 
farm  in  that  State,  but  who  is  now  living  at  Winnsboro, 
says,  that  taking  the  value  of  the  land  into  account,  he 
makes  his  forage  cheaper  on  the  worn-out  hills  of  Fair- 
field  than  he  does  on  the  famous  blue-grass  lands  of  his 
native  State.  His  crops  are  oats  and  German  millet. 
The  latter  he  estimates  that  he  houses  at  a cost  of  six 
dollars  per  ton.  Lucerne  has  long  been  established  in 
this  town,  and  there  are  stools  of  this  valuable  forage 
plant,  still  vigorous,  known  to  be  fifty  years  old.  In  the 
same  town,  Col.  James  H.  Rion  sowed  in  1874,  a half 
acre  of  red  land,  a worn-out  old  field,  infested  with  nut 
grass,  in  lucerne.  In  1875  got  one  cutting,  and  from 
that  date  to  1880,  from  four  to  ten  cuttings  each  year. 
The  ten  cuttings  were  obtained  in  1878.  The  lucerne 
averaged  two  and  a half  feet  in  height  at  every  cutting, 
making  a total  growth  for  the  season,  of  twenty-five 
feet.  By  actual  weighing,  each  cutting  averaged  4,189 
pounds  from  this  half  acre,  which  was  also  carefully 
measured,  giving  a total  of  twenty  and  a half  tons,  or  at 
the  rate  of  forty-one  tons  per  acre.  The  mention  of 
such  facts  are  not  out  of  place,  inasmuch  as  since  the 
invention  of  the  cotton-gin  the  culture  of  cotton  has  so 
superseded  all  other  agricultural  pursuits,  that  it  might 
well  be  thought  that  nothing  else  could  be  grown  here. 
Cotton  planting  has  become  so  easy  and  simple,  it  re- 
quires so  little  individual  thought  and  effort,  the  money 
returns  are  so  certain  and  direct,  or  the  crop  may  be  so 
cheaply  stored  and  preserved  from  injury  for  such  an  in- 
definite time,  every  business,  trade  and  industry  acces- 
sory to  the  work  of  the  farmers,  from  bankers  and  rail- 
roads to  implement  and  fertilizer  manufacturers,  have 
become  so  thoroughly  systematized  and  organized  in 


176 


Proceedings  of  the 

unison  with  this  pursuit,  that  any  change  is  difficult,  and 
as  a consequence,  the  manifold  resources  of  the  country 
are  neglected  and  undeveloped.” 

I have  in  the  briefest  manner  possible,  simply  fur- 
nished an  enumeration  of  our  chief  resources,  and  owing 
to  the  limited  time  at  our  disposal,  purposely  omitted  to 
mention  our  smaller  products. 

The  intelligent  inquirer  will  be  able  to  supply  all  these 
after  being  placed  in  possession  of  the  general  informa- 
tion furnished.  It  is  proper  that  I should  allude  to  the 
development  of  our  resources  and  the  progress  of  our 
State,  in  order  to  show  what  our  people  have  done  with 
the  means  at  their  disposal,  and  to  illustrate  our  great 
possibilities. 

The  latest  compilation  of  statistics,  showing  these 
facts,  was  made  by  the  Charleston  News  and  Courier  in 
January,  and  as  the  information  was  collected  and  com- 
piled with  great  care,  I avail  myself  of  it  in  showing  you 
our  rapid  development. 

The  value,  in  gold,  of  the  product  of  all  the  cotton 
mills  in  the  State  was  as  follows  : 


i860 $ 713,050 

1870 1,274,944 

1880 2,895,769 

1883-4 7,963, 198 


The  percentage  of  increase  was  as  follows  : 


1860-70 78  per  cent. 

1870-80 127  per  cent. 

1880-84 175  per  cent. 


In  a little  more  than  three  years,  ending  January,  1884, 
the  icrease  in  production  was  a third  more  than  in  the 
ten  years  ending  in  1880,  and  the  whole  product  in  1883 
was  ten  times  as  great  as  the  product  in  i860.  This  is 
not  the  whole  truth.  The  actual  capacity  of  the  cotton 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 177 

mills  in  South  Carolina,  as  they  stand  to-day,  is  at  least 
$9,000,000.  The  production  of  the  cotton  mills  in  the 
State  this  year  should  be  three  times  as  great  as  the 
production  in  1880.  The  number  of  looms  and  spindles 
was  as  follows : 

Looms.  Spindles. 


i860 525  30,890 

1870 745  34,940 

1880 1,676  82,334 

1883-84 3,652  195, 112 


The  production  of  lumber  and  naval  stores  has  in- 
creased with  exhilarating  rapidity.  In  1880  and  in  1883 
respectively,  the  value  of  the  products  was  : 


1880.  1883. 

Lumber $2,031,507  $5, 592,565 

Naval  Stores 2,857,981  2,957,271 


Totals $4,889,488  $8,504,836 


The  increase  in  the  value  of  the  product  in  three  years 
is  74  per  Cent.  In  value,  the  lumber  and  naval  stores 
business  exceeds  by  half  a million  dollars  the  value  of 
the  products  of  the  cotton  mills  last  year.  The  lumber 
and  naval  stores  last  year  equalled  in  value  212,620 
bales  of  cotton  at  $40  to  the  bale. 

There  is  another  branch  of  manufactures  which  is  yet 
in  its  teens,  but  is  of  great  importance — the  manufac- 
ture of  commercial  fertilizers.  Last  year  the  value  of 
the  commercial  fertilizers  manufactured  in  this  State  was 
$3,346,400.  All  the  factories  are  in  or  around  Charles- 
ton, or  in  Beaufort  county..  It  should  be  noted  that  the 
South  Carolina  fertilizers  are  made  from  the  South  Caro- 
lina phosphate  rock. 

Taking  the  classification  of  manufactures  which  is  fol- 
lowed in  the  United  States  Census,  and  reducing  the 
value  of  the  products  in  1870  to  a gold  basis,  we  obtain 


i7» 


Proceedings  of  the 

the  following  results,  being  the  whole  value  of  all  manu- 
factured produts  in  South  Carolina : 


i860 $ 8,615,195 

1870 8,215,198 

1880 16,738,008 

1883 32,324,404 


The  progress  of  the  State  in  agriculture  has  been  sat- 
isfactory, as  is  proved  by  the  following  statement  of  the 
production  of  cotton,  corn  and  small  grain  : 


i860.  1870.  1883. 

Cotton,  bales 353,412  224,500  468,227 

Corn,  bushels 15,635,606  7,614,207  10,876,744 

Oats,  bushels 906,924  613,593  4,187,082 

Wheat,  bushels 1,285,631  782,610  1,383,731 


The  year  1883  was  most  unfavorable,  the  crop  of  cot- 
ton, as  compared  with  1882,  being  reduced  32  per  cent 
by  drought,  rust  and  worms,  while  corn  was  reduced  43 
per  cent,  oats  8 per  cent,  and  wheat  2 per  cent.  In  spite 
of  this,  the  cotton  crop  in  1883  was  114,815  bales  more 
than  in  i860.  This  year  the  estimated  crop,  as  com- 
pared with  i860,  will  be  as  follows  : 


i860.  1884. 

Cotton,  bales 353,412  700,000 

Corn,  bushels 15,635,606  19,210,000 

Oats,  bushels 906,924  7,437,213 

Wheat,  bushels 1,285,631  1,803,924 


Without  going  further  into  details,  these  statements 
given  are  sufficient  to  convince  you  that  South  Carolina 
is  not  lagging,  but  that  she  proposes  to  lead  her  South- 
ern sisters  in  the  grand  march  of  progress. 

There  is  one  other  important  matter  that  demands 
not  only  my  consideration,  but  yours.  I allude  to  our 
magnificent  seacoast  and  splendid  harbors.  If  this  As- 
sociation is  to  accomplish  all  that  we  earnestly  desire 
that  it  shall,  it  must,  as  all  will  agree,  establish  a line  of 
steamships  from  Europe  to  some  of  our  Southern  sea- 
ports ; and  while  admitting  the  availability  of  other 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  179 

places  as  an  entrepot,  I think  that  no  more  suitable 
point  can  be  found  than  Charleston  or  Port  Royal. 
Charleston  has  already  spoken  emphatically  on  this  point, 
and  she  will  act  as  liberally  and  afford  as  much  substan- 
tial encouragement  to  our  grand  enterprise  as  any  city 
in  the  South.  A Castle  Garden  established  at  Charles- 
ton would  result  in  immense  good  to  the  whole  South, 
and  its  establishment  would  be  hailed  with  delight,  as  it 
would  be  recognized  as  the  first  really  practical  step 
taken  to  secure  foreign  immigration  for  the  South.  The 
advantages  Charleston  can  offer  are  many,  and  at  the 
proper  time  will  be  presented  for  your  consideration. 
Port  Royal  has  also  made  a bid  for  this  distinction.  It 
is  hardly  necessary,  in  a body  composed  of  such  intelli- 
gent members  as  this,  to  allude  to  the  advantages  of 
this  royal  port ; but  I may,  in  conclusion,  be  pardoned 
for  quoting  a few  lines  from  eminent  authority  regarding 
it : “ It  is  the  nearest  point  on  the  Atlantic  ocean  to  the 
great  centres  of  travel  and  production  in  the  Northwest. 
It  has  the  deepest  entrance,  and  the  deepest,  safest  and 
most  commodious  road-stead  from  Portland  to  Pensa- 
cola. It  is  the  nearest  port  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the 
West  Indies  and  South  America.  Surrounded  on  all 
sides  by  large  bodies  of  salt  water,  it  is  troubled  by 
none  of  the  malarial  influences  usually  affecting  fresh 
water  estuaries.  Dr.  Spear,  surgeon  United  States 
navy,  gives  the  average  death  rate  of  the  United  States 
naval  forces  in  Port  Royal  waters  as  5.6  per  1,000  men. 
The  range  lights  erected  on  Hilton  and  Paris  islands 
enable  vessels  without  a pilot  to  come  in  during  blowing 
weather  with  perfect  safety  by  day  or  night.  Capt. 
James  E.  Jouett,  United  States  navy,  writes  that  he  has 
passed  in  and  out  several  time's  at  night,  and  never  with 
less  than  twenty-nine  feet  of  water.  There  are  two 


180  Proceedings  of  the 

distinct  channels,  so  situated  that  sailing  vessels  may 
enter  with  the  wind  in  any  direction,  and,  passing  up 
Broad  and  Port  Royal  rivers,  they  may  enter  Battery 
creek  and  reach  the  present  wharves  under  full  sail, 
where  there  is  a stretch  of  anchorage  five  miles  in 
length,  with  twenty-eight  feet  depth  of  water.” 

The  objects  that  this  Association  is  designed  to  pro- 
mote are  worthy  of  the  thought  of  our  ablest  states- 
men. The  people  of  the  South  are  anxiously  watching 
its  action,  and  I believe  if  we  act  wisely  in  this  matter, 
more  will  be  done  to  advance  the  industrial  condition 
of  the  Southern  States  than  all  other  plans  combined 
could  possibly  accomplish. 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 


1 8 1 


TENNESSEE. 


ADDRESS  BY  ROBERT  GATES,  ESQ.,  VICE-PRESIDENT  SOUTHERN 
IMMIGRATION  ASSOCIATION. 


The  remarks  I shall  submit  on  this  occasion  are 
applicable  to  Tennessee,  and  more  or  less  of  other 
Southern  States.  My  personal  observations,  however, 
have  been  limited  to  my  own  State  and  adjacent  por- 
tions of  others,  and  upon  those  observations  my  views 
are  largely  based. 

In  my  mind  two  facts  are  prominent : First  There 
must  be  a change  in  the  agricultural  methods  of  the 
South,  and  greater  diversity  of  production.  Second. 
The  labor  system  and  laborers  of  the  South  are  unsatis- 
factory and  growing  more  so. 

The  face  of  the  country  and  the  condition  of  our 
farmers  tells  the  tale.  Lands  worn  out,  rheumatic 
fences,  no  barns,  or  wretched  ones ; stables  through 
which  the  pitiless  winds  and  rains  of  winter  pour  at 
will ; farm-houses  rusting  for  paint,  and  patched  with 
inharmonious  boards;  yards  and  lawns  in  which  dead 
leaves  and  unsightly  weeds  crush  out  the  life  of  the 
tender  grass  ; vistas  of  woodland  where  the  briers  and 
brush  shock  the  eye,  and  forbid  excursions  ; stretches  of 
fields  seamed  with  grinning  gullies  and  sheltering  under 
the  desolate  and  mournful  brown  sedge  ; a general  air  of 
discomfort,  dissatisfaction  and  despondency — such  is  but 
a too  faithful  picture  of  many  Southern  farms  away 
from  the  cities. 


1 82  Proceedings  of  the 

As  a rule  our  farmers  are  on  a strain  from  year  to 
year.  Their  land  is  no  security  for  loans,  and  the 
largest  land  holder  is  frequently  the  poorest  of  men. 
They  cling  to  old  methods,  run  in  the  old  ruts,  and 
grumble  at  fortune  in  the  good  old  way.  The  insatiate 
monster,  mortgage,  eats  its  way  into  plantation  after 
plantation,  and,  sooner  or  later,  the  erstwhile  owner  is 
shoved  off  to  drift  with  the  tide.  Some  rail  at  progress 
and  defy  the  rushing  currents  of  life  that  sweep  around 
them,  until  they  are  swallowed  up  and  go  to  the  bottom. 
Some  struggle  manfully,  but  in  vain,  against  the  effects 
of  bad  methods  and  worse  labor.  Some  would,  but  do 
not,  change,  and  wait  and  wait  until  it  is  too  late.  Cot- 
ton or  tobacco,  those  despots  of  this  Southland,  hold 
sway,  and  their  reign  was,  is  and  will  be  ruin,  ruin  world 
without  end. 

Seeing  the  situation  thus,  I felt,  years  ago,  that  a 
change  must  be  brought  about,  or  the  Sunny  South 
would  be  all  sun  and  no  soil,  and  that  bankruptcy  would 
rule,  “ making  a desert  and  calling  it  peace. ” 

But  the  change  ; how  and  when  ? 

Could  the  needful  revolution  be  effected  within  our- 
selves in  time  to  save  the  country  to  our  children  ? 
That  was  the  first  question.  Its  answer  came  with  the 
story  of  the  years  since  the  war. 

i.  There  were  the  years  of  mortgages  to  merchants 
to  feed  negroes,  to  buy  mules,  to  make  cotton ; to 
increase  the  mortgages  to  feed  more  negroes,  to  buy 
more  mules  to  make  more  cotton  ; to  have  the  mort- 
gage foreclosed  at  last,  and  after  two  years  of  desperate 
struggling,  hoping  and  despairing,  to  be  driven  from 
the  plantations  of  their  fathers — the  all  that  survived 
the  wreck  of  war.  O,  the  blighted  lives,  the  broken 
hearts,  that  paved  those  bitter  years. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  183 

Then  there  were  the  years  of  partial  retrenchment 
and  reform,  the  years  when  our  ideas  were  drawn  in 
and  farms  took  the  place  of  plantations,  the  years  of 
less  pretensions  and  smaller  debts.  But  debts  remained. 
The  old  methods  had  been  modified,  not  changed. 
Cotton  or  tobacco  still  ruled,  and  the  freedman  still 
owned  the  farmer  who  owned  the  land  that  grew  the 
crops  the  merchant  owned. 

3,  Then  there  are  the  few  years  dating  from  the 
drought  of  1881 — years  of  desperate  struggles,  in  which 
thousands  went  to  the  wall ; years  of  more  or  less 
honest  efforts  to  improve  the  conditions  ; years  in  which 
the  fatal  policies  of  the  past  were  at  last  realized  ; years 
of  some  improvement,  the  period  in  which  the  country 
struck  a plane,  beneath  which  was  total  bankruptcy, 
and  on  which  efforts  were  organized  for  an  upward, 
forward  move. 

But  cotton  and  tobacco  still  fill  too  much  space — the 
negro  and  the  mule  are  still  princes  in  the  land,  and 
debts  and  mortgages,  and  many  of  the  baneful  curses 
of  the  old  regime  remaim.  The  old  ruts,  the  old 
methods,  the  old  crops,  the  old  ideas  are  still  deep  and 
strong  in  the  land,  and  all  over  the  land  there  is  the 
cloud  of  poverty,  and  in  all  impatience  at  the  length  of 
the  journey  from  the  slough  of  despond  to  the  high 
plane  of  prosperity. 

Again,  there  is  the  negro,  the  mainstay  for  labor, 
landless,  shiftless  and  unthrifty,  but  overflowing  with 
the  conceits  that  come  of  little  knowledge,  and  burning 
for  a political  and  social  something  that  is  hardly  de- 
finable, and  is  yet  demoralizing.  For  many  years  to 
come  he  will  be  less  profitable  as  a laborer  and  less 
satisfactory  as  a citizen  than  in  the  past.  He  is  in  a 
transition  state — from  darkness  to  light,  from  ignorance 


184 


Proceedings  of  the 

to  a degree  of  knowledge.  The  change  has  inflated 
him  very  naturally,  and  he  exaggerates  the  probabilities 
and  possibilities  of  the  future.  He  would  have  his 
children  live  without  hard  work ; he  fills  their  minds 
with  false  ideas  of  life,  with  vain  social  aspirations,  that 
unfit  them  for  many  pursuits  congenial  to  their  capacity, 
and  he  stuffs  them  with  prejudices  against  the  farm  and 
farmers.  The  negro  stands,  in  short,  at  the  point  in  his 
history  which  the  poet  fitly  expresses  in  the  line, 

“A  little  learning  is  a dangerous  thing.” 

The  result  is  that  the  negro  is  drifting  away  from  the 
farm  ; drifting  along  our  railroads  and  rivers  ; drifting 
into  the  towns  and  cities,  and  unless  wiser  influences 
prevail,  drifting  to  lower  strata  of  social  life  and  to 
gradual  inconsequence,  as  even  a political  factor,  if  not 
to  ultimate  extinction.  This  view  is  based  on  the  con- 
viction that  the  negro’s  most  congenial  and  safest 
pursuit  is  agriculture,  and  that  retrogression  will  follow 
in  proportion  as  this  field  is  abandoned  for  the  Bohe- 
mian ways  of  the  cities,  the  rivers  and  railroads,  To- 
day, all  over  the  South,  they  are  the  chief  idlers,  and 
this  comes  of  a “little  learning,”  of  false  ideas  and 
fruitless  aspirations ; of  imitating  those  things  least  to 
be  admired  in  the  superior  race,  of  politics  and  agita- 
tion, of  conventions  and  high-sounding  declamations,  of 
complainings  against  railroads,  hotels,  theaters  and 
schools,  instead  of  work,  thrift  and  efforts  to  build  a 
foundation  of  social  independence  upon  which  to  con- 
struct claims  to  higher  consideration.  I may  see  through 
the  glass  darkly,  but  I am  persuaded  that  it  will  be 
many  years  before  the  negro  race  passes  the  period  of 
buncombe,  restlessness  and  demoralization.  Until  then, 
until  this  transition  period  is  past,  he  will  not  be  profit- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  185 

able  or  reliable  on  the  farms  of  Tennessee  and  the 
Southern  uplands. 

In  fact,  Tennessee  and  the  upland  regions  of  the 
South  are  unsuitable  to  the  negro.  He  wants  a land  of 
long  seasons,  a land  of  cotton  or  sugar,  a land  of  plod- 
ding labor  and  long  holidays.  Just  as  grass  is  sown 
and  stock  is  raised,  the  negro  will  move  until  he  finds 
his  Canaan  in  the  lowlands  that  border  our  rivers. 
This  is  their  destiny,  and  this  is  their  hope.  For  the 
far  South  they  may  achieve  much,  here  they  can  never 
prosper. 

In  time,  I hope,  the  race  will  take  its  proper  place  in 
the  social  and  political  fabric,  and  move  forward  on 
possible  and  progressive  lines.  The  days  of  false  ideas 
and  illogical  aspirations  will,  let  us  hope,  have  an  end, 
the  true  level  found,  and  right  development  begun. 
My  sympathies  are  with  the  race,  and  I favor  a liberal 
policy  of  education.  It  is  better  for  them  and  the 
country  that  they  be  better  educated.  They  cannot 
be  kept  at  the  point  where  “ ignorance  is  bliss.”  In 
this  progressive  age  knowledge  comes  in  thousands  of 
ways — over  railroads,  on  the  rivers,  through  the  very 
air,  in  numerous  contacts,  through  the  numberLess  cur- 
rents of  a sleeplessly  busy  world,  and  in  the  language 
of  a grand  orator  of  the  olden  time,  “We  must  edu- 
cate, we  must  educate  or  perish  by  our  own  prosperity.” 

From  this  view,  from  the  effects  produced  by  old 
ideas,  and  exhaustive  methods,  and  the  unsatisfactory 
character  of  the.  labor  system  under  existing  conditions, 
we  are  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  our  people  cannot 
reform  and  restore  unaided,  except  through  long  and  tedi- 
ous years,  in  the  course  of  which  our  young  men  will  more 
and  more  drift  away  from  the  farms  into  the  uncertain 
channels  so  numerously  afforded  in  a new  country  and 


1 86  Proceedings  of  the 

a progressive  age.  Therefore,  if  Tennessee  and  the 
Southern  upland  sections  would  move  forward  in  the 
line  of  progress,  there  must  be  a change  all  along  the 
line.  First,  there  must  be  more  white  men  and  fewer 
negroes  in  Tennessee  and  sections  of  other  Southern 
States,  for  the  good  of  both  races.  Second,  and  really 
the  key  to  the  whole  situation,  we  must  have  diversified 
production  and  diversified  industries.  They  are  the 
necessities  of  the  situation  and  the  hope  of  the  future. 
With  mixed  crops  and  varied  industries,  all  vexed 
problems,  whether  social,  or  as  regards  the  soil,  or  as 
to  labor,  will  cease  to  trouble,  and  will  solve  them- 
selves. 

The  question  then  is,  how  to  bring  about  this  neces- 
sary change  ? I answer,  in  a word,  immigration.  I hold 
that  if  we  can  plant  a thrifty  Northern  man  in  each 
neighborhood  in  Tennessee  and  the  Southern  uplands, 
and  bring  them  and  their  capital  to  our  towns  and  cities, 
that  by  their  example  and  enterprise  more  will  be  accom- 
plished in  the  restoration  and  enrichment  of  the  country 
in  five  years  than  our  people,  unaided,  and  wedded  as 
they  are  to  old  ideas,  and  hampered  as  they  are  by  debt, 
and  embarrassed  as  they  are  by  the  labor  problem,  will 
accomplish  in  thirty-five  years. 

To  develop  our  mineral  resources,  to  give  life  to  manu- 
facturing enterprises,  to  bring  about  diversity  of  indus- 
tries, which  in  turn  produces  the  nearest  possible  equi- 
librium between  capital  and  labor,  and  is  essential  to 
the  highest  prosperity  and  happiness,  we  need  men  of 
capital  and  experience,  men  who  have  been  trained  in 
the  school  of  enterprise  ; men  accustomed  to  win  by 
nerve,  energy  and  solid  sense  ; men  inspired  to  look  far 
ahead,  and  to  building  for  posterity  in  material  things. 
From  the  North  and  Northwest  those  men  are  coming, 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 187 

and  will  come  faster  if  we  encourage  them,  and  do  our 
part  in  the  work  of  development  when  they  come. 

But  I say  Northern  and  Northwestern  men.  For 
many  reasons  I do  not  favor  extra  efforts  to  secure 
foreign  immigrants  direct.  In  the  first  place,  with  our 
best  efforts  and  the  largest  State  appropriations  possi- 
ble at  this  time,  we  cannot  compete  with  the  great  rail- 
road corporations  of  the  West,  Northwest  and  South- 
west. They  have  millions  of  acres  of  public  lands 
which  they  can  afford  to  sell  in  alternate  sections  mar- 
velously cheap.  They  have  mines  and  forests  and 
cities  to  develop.  They  have  piles  of  maps,  pamphlets 
and  books  with  which  they  flood  Europe,  and  they  have 
intelligent  and  well-paid  agents  in  every  desirable  coun- 
try on  the  Eastern  continent.  In  the  second  place, 
foreign  immigration  in  colonies,  in  the  vast  numbers  for 
years  flowing  into  the  Northern,  Middle  and  North- 
western States,  is  not  desirable. 

I hold  that  while  diversity  of  production  and  industries 
is  essential  to  prosperity,  that  unity  of  sentiment  and 
purpose  is  as  much  so.  Coming  in  large  numbers  and 
settling  in  colonies,  foreigners  retain  for  generations 
the  customs,  ideas  and  language  of  their  fatherlands. 
They  are  clannish  in  business,  politics  and  society. 
They  demand  this  and  that  as  the  price  of  their  good 
will.  We  hear  constant  speculation  about  the  German, 
the  Scandinavian  and  the  Irish  vote.  In  many  cities 
they  demand  their  native  language  in  the  public  schools, 
and  they  maintain  separate  churches.  They  also  de- 
mand in  cities  and  States  a license  in  regard  to  moral 
and  religious  observances  not  accorded  the  native  pop- 
ulation, and  at  war  with  the  American  idea  of  the 
fitness  of  things.  They  do  not  merge  into  the  body 
politic  ; they  do  not  mingle  with  the  currents  of  Ameri- 


1 88 


Proceedings  of  the 

can  social  life  for  generations.  But,  on  the  contrary, 
they  build  up  German,  Scandinavian  and  Irish  commu- 
nities and  petty  states  within  the  Republic  that  compli- 
cates government  more  and  more  every  year,  keeps  up 
national  prejudices,  encourages  demagogy,  and  embar- 
rasses the  social  fabric  as  well  as  the  political  machinery 
of  the  country. 

I am  not  opposed  to  foreign  immigration  per  se ; on 
the  contrary,  I want  America’s  broad  doors  to  remain 
open  for  all  the  nationalities  of  Europe.  I hold,  how- 
ever, that  the  policy  of  settling  foreigners  in  this  country 
in  large  colonies  and  regularly  organized  communities  is 
impolitic,  having  already  produced  evils  marked  in  char- 
acter, and  that  will  give  the  country  much  serious  trouble 
in  future  years.  The  true  theory  of  the  American  Re- 
public is,  that  it  is  a great  ocean  of  humanity,  into  which 
rivers  of  nationalities  continually  empty,  and  lose  their 
identity  in  one  grand  homogeneous  and  superior  race. 

The  Anglo-Saxon  is  a product  of  the  mingling  of  many 
national  bloods  which,  preserving  most  of  the  best  quali- 
ties of  each  constituent  element,  created  a new  and 
higher  type.  This  grand  nationality,  that  has  achieved 
by  its  deeds  and  the  common  consent  of  the  world  the 
dignity  of  a race,  has  successfully  borne  the  brunt  of 
civilization’s  battles  for  over  a thousand  years.  It  has 
maintained  its  superiority  on  numberless  theatres  of 
action  and  in  every  clime  under  the  sun.  In  the  begin- 
ning of  this  race  the  process  of  assimilation  was  attended 
with  conflicts  in  field  and  forum  for  centuries.  This  was 
because  the  various  nationalities  came  to  Britain  in  colo- 
nies and  armies  and  settled  in  separate  communities  and 
districts.  Hence,  it  required  centuries  to  merge  the 
originals  in  the  new  and  superior  type. 

We  are  engaged  in  this  grand  country  of  liberty  and 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  189 

law  in  the  glorious  work  of  evolving  a new  and  a greater 
race  than  the  Anglo-Saxon — a race  that  shall  be  known 
in  history  as  the  “American  race,”  and  that  shall  take 
up,  sooner  or  later,  leadership  in  the  great  work  of  civili- 
zation laid  down  by  the  Anglo-Saxon,  carrying  it  forward 
to  higher  triumphs.  But  in  producing  this  mighty  race 
of  the  future,  it  is  the  part  of  wisdom  to  avoid  the  retard- 
ing and  embittering  friction  that  characterized  the  forma- 
tive periods  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  ; and  to  do  this  we 
must  discourage  clanism  and  the  gathering  together,  in 
organized  communities,  peoples  speaking  languages  for- 
eign to  the  laws,  literature  and  social  life  of  the  American 
race.  We  want  people  from  all  the  great  nationalities 
to  come  and  be  with  us  and  of  us,  but  when  they  come 
we  want  them  to  be  no  longer  Germans,  or  Scandina- 
vians, or  Irishmen,  but  purely  and  grandly  Ameri- 
cans. 

Firmly  believe  and  believing,  would  shield  the  South 
at  least,  that  if  foreigners  continue  for  another  quarter 
of  a century  to  come  in  colonies  and  settle  in  distinct 
communities,  that  the  process  of  assimilation  will  become 
slower  and  more  difficult,  and  will  be  attended  by  strifes, 
social  and  political,  and  finally  worked  out  through  much 
corruption  in  morals  and  demoralization  in  religion. 
Some  of  the  Northwestern  States,  and  many  of  our 
cities,  to-day  present  powerful  warnings  of  the  evils 
present  and  threatened. 

The  true  policy  is  to  let  foreigners  come  among  us, 
just  as  we  go  West  or  Southwest,  in  families  just  enough 
for  neighborly  society,  and  not  enough  for  political  or 
social  independence,  or  national  arrogance.  Let  them 
settle  here  and  there  in  numbers  sufficient  to  enrich, 
and  not  corrupt  the  current  of  American  progress. 

1 Thus  assimilation  will  go  on  in  healthfulness,  and  under 


190 


Proceedings  of  the 


homogeneous  conditions,  the  development  of  our  coun- 
try will  be  steady  and  strong. 

But  the  South  needs  new  ideas  and  methods — a peo- 
ple in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  progress  and  abreast 
of  the  times  in  material  development.  The  question 
again  recurs  : From  whence  shall  they  come  ? Answer  : 
From  the  North  and  Northwest.  You  may  inquire 
how?  I tell  you  that  Northern  immigration  to  the 
South  is  no  longer  a matter  of  speculation.  I assure 
you  it  is  in  process  of  practical  demonstration.  The 
Northerners  are  actually  coming.  They  are  beginning 
to  settle  among  us,  and  already  the  influence  of  their 
presence  is  awakening  new  life  and  hope  in  several 
Southern  States.  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  has  set 
an  example  of  far-sighted  enterprise  that  every  railroad 
system  in  the  South  should  follow.  For  nearly  a year 
the  large-minded  Commissioner  of  Tennessee,  and  Capt. 
J.  F.  Merry,  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  others 
co-operating  with  them,  have  been  working  up  an  inter- 
est in  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  among  the  people  of 
the  North  and  Northwest.  This  work  has  culminated 
in  a system  of  monthly  land  excursions,  begun  last  Octo- 
ber and  to  go  on  indefinitely.  Over  a thousand  pros- 
pectors from  the  North  have  visited  Tennessee  and 
other  Southern  States  on  these  excursions.  Some  have 
bought  land  and  settled,  others  have  invested  money  in 
various  enterprises,  and  more  will  settle  and  invest 
every  month.  In  fact,  it  is  already  a great  movement, 
and  our  people  will  be  astonished  at  its  magnitude  before 
the  present  year’s  history  is  closed. 

I would  urge  every  Southern  State  to  co-operate  in 
this  movement,  and  concentrate  their  means  and  ener- 
gies in  this  direction,  obtain  increased  State  appropria- 
tions and  employ  the  last  dollar  devoted  to  immigration 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  19 1 

to  work  in  the  North,  Northeast  and  Northwest.  Com- 
bine to  enlist  all  the  railroads.  It  is  to  their  interest, 
and  I am  sure  that  each  road  in  the  South  will  do  as  the 
Illinois  Central  is  doing.  Let  a spirit  of  kindness, 
of  mutual  interest,  be  cultivated  between  the  rail- 
roads and  the  people.  Let  all  agencies  and  influences 
be  combined  in  this  work  of  bringing  Northern  brain, 
muscle  and  money  to  the  South,  and  the  result  will 
astonish  and  delight  every  progressive  man  in  this 
broad  land. 

These  Northern  people  are  the  people  we  want.  They 
are  a live  and  pushing  people.  In  a bitter  climate  they 
have  learned  economy,  and  been  stimulated  to  enterprise. 
They  are  to  the  manor  born.  Their  language  is  our 
language  ; their  laws  our  laws.  Socially  and  religiously, 
they  will  be  at  home  among  us.  In  the  contact  of  social, 
industrial  and  business  life,  they  will  improve  us  and  we 
will  improve  them.  They  are  of  Americans  the  most 
American.  They  have,  perhaps,  too  little  State  pride, 
and  it  may  be  we  have  too  much.  But  for  the  nation 
with  a big  N,  they  have  an  aggressive  pride  that  will  do 
us  no  harm  to  rub  against. 

As  a rule  they  are  trained  in  diversified  farming. 
Although  our  conditions  are  more  favorable  for  mixed 
production,  yet  we  are  far  behind  them.  They  sell  us 
butter  that  we  can  make  more  cheaply;  they  often  sell 
us  corn  that  we  can  grow  more  abundantly ; they  sell  us 
hay,  although  we  can  have  pastures  nine  or  ten  months 
in  the  year,  and  cut  from  two  to  three  crops  per  year 
from  the  same  field  ; they  even  sell  us  fruit,  although 
this  is  the  finest  fruit  region  in  the  world.  Hence,  I say, 
settle  these  people  all  over  Tennessee  and  the  Southern 
uplands,  and  encouraged  by  a genial  climate  and  a kindly 
soil,  they  will  help  our  own  people  to  make  the  South,  in 


192  Proceedings  of  the 

a few  years,  to  the  New  World,  what  the  Nile  Valley 
and  England  combined,  is  to  the  Old. 

Of  Tennessee  let  me  proudly  speak.  Here  is  the 
favorite  home  of  diversified  production.  Here  is  the 
land  of  diversified  industries,  the  land  of  coal  and  iron, 
of  timber  and  minerals,  the  grandest  land  on  earth  for 
all  that  makes  and  moves  men  to  enterprise  and  high 
achievements.  This  is  the  land  of  corn  and  cotton,  of 
wheat  and  tobacco,  of  clover  and  all  the  grasses.  It  is 
the  land  of  the  blushing  peach,  of  the  crimsoned  straw- 
berry, of  the  royal  apple.  It  is  the  land  of  the  fleecy 
Cotswold  and  toothsome  Southdown.  It  is  the  land  of 
the  mild  and  graceful  Jersey,  the  lordly  Short-horn  and 
the  royal  Durham.  It  is  the  land  of  Bonnie  Scotland, 
of  Luke  Blackburn  and  of  Bramble.  It  is  the  land  of  a 
Jackson,  a Polk,  a Johnson  and  a Bell,  and  here  they 
sleep.  This  is  the  home  of  a Cheatham  and  a Forrest, 
and  the  hosts  that  followed  them  to  fields  immortal. 
Here  humanity  reaches  its  highest  perfection  in  form 
and  brain — here  are  to  be  found  the  most  beautiful 
women  in  the  world — women  whose  charms  match  the 
ideals  of  the  masters  in  art  and  the  poets  in  all  times. 
Such  a land  should  be  a veritable  Garden  of  Eden  ; its 
plains  laden  with  wealth,  its  cloud-kissed  mountains 
bursting  with  riches,  and  its  valleys  laughing  with 
abundance. 

Looking  a decade  beyond  to-day,  I see  my  own  West 
Tennessee — the  land  of  big  trees,  deep,  still  waters  and 
kindly  soil ; the  land  of  the  largest  fruitage  to  the  care 
and  labor  expended  under  the  sun.  I see  her  worn 
fields  healed  of  their  wounds,  and  under  a mantle  of 
nutricious  grass,  nourishing  the  elements  of  boundless 
wealth.  I see  her  forests  yielding  priceless  treasures  of 
staple  and  fancy  woods.  I see  her  plains  rich  in  pastures 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  193 

and  glorious  with  herds.  I see  her  hill  regions  white 
with  flocks.  I see  orchards  upon  orchards,  in  which  the 
green  of  leaves  and  the  red  and  gold  of  ripened  fruit 
blend  in  matchless  beauty.  I see,  on  her  sunny  slopes, 
vines  black,  purple  and  crimson  with  berries  in  endless 
variety  and  matchless  flavor,  and  growing  in  rare  abun- 
dance for  a hundred  markets. 

And  I see  this  magnificent  land  of  plain,  and  knobs, 
and  streams,  the  far-famed  Middle  Tennessee,  with  Luke 
Blackburns  feeding  in  a thousand  blue-grass  fields,  royal 
blooded  cattle,  lowing  beside  her  crystal  streams,  her 
hills  green  with  grass  and  beautiful  with  flocks,  num- 
berless orchards,  yielding  tenfold  over  past  years,  her 
homes  baronial  mansions,  castles  of  content,  gallantry 
and  beauty,  around  which  sweep  landscapes  of  surpass- 
ing loveliness  ; and  see  her  towns  grown  to  cities,  over 
which  a rich  canopy  of  industrial  smoke  hangs  like  a 
mist,  flecked  with  silver  and  with  gold.  And  I see  the 
mountains  of  East  Tennessee  pouring  forth  inexhausti- 
ble streams  of  mineral  wealth,  her  terraced  slopes  green 
with  vines,  her  tossing  and  tumbling  streams  turning  the 
wheels  of  a thousand  mills,  her  sweet  valleys,  where  the 
brooks  and  the  rivers  meet,  radiant  with  the  green  and 
gold  of  bountiful  harvests.  I see  this  land  amid  whose 
alpine  heights  storms  hold  their  revels,  on  whose  sum- 
mits the  thunder  makes  its  home  and  the  lightning  leaps 
in  maddening  glee,  adown  whose  furrowed  sides  torrents, 
with  their  sources  in  the  clouds,  leap  and  roar  in  an  end- 
less warfare  with  the  eternal  rocks — I see  this  land  of 
mist  and  sun,  of  giant  peaks  and  pensive  vales,  as  rich 
as  its  scenery  is  grand.  And  from  old  Bald’s  bare  head, 
between  which  and  the  sun  no  vail  ever  comes,  to  the 
deep  and  troubled  waters  of  the  rushing,  fretting  Missis- 
sippi, see  a prosperous  and  happy  people  ; and  over  all, 


i94 


Proceedings  of  the 

from  mountain  chain  to  river,  a matchless  bow  whose 
promise  is  peace  and  plenty  forever  and  forever. 

We  are  under  obligations  to  Hon.  A.  W.  Hawkins 
for  the  following  description  of  Tennessee,  prepared  by 
him  in  1882  : 

GEOGRAPHY  OF  TENNESSEE. 

Tennessee  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  North  Carolina, 
on  the  north  by  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  on  the  west  by 
the  Mississippi  river,  which  separates  it  from  Missouri 
and  Arkansas,  and  on  the  south  by  Mississippi,  Ala- 
bama and  Georgia.  It  lies  between  the  parallels  350 
and  36°  41'  north  latitude,  and  8i°  37'  and  90°  28' 
longitude  west  from  Greenwich.  The  width  of  the  State 
from  north  to  south  is  approximately  no  miles,  while 
its  length  is  about  430  miles. 

Mountains . — Within  the  State  are  parts  of  two  great 
mountain  ranges,  which  extend  quite  across,  running 
from  northeast  to  southwest.  The  first  of  these  is  the 
Apalachian  chain,  which  by  its  greater  axis  forms  the 
dividing  line  between  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee. 
These  mountains,  known  locally  as  the  Unakas  or  Great 
Smoky  Mountains,  occupy  a belt  within  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  State,  and  as  before  stated,  extend 
entirely  across  it.  Their  highest  peaks  rise  to  an  alti- 
tude of  more  than  six  thousand  feet.  The  mountain 
chain  is  cut  into  deep,  rocky  gorges,  affording  channels 
for  the  passage  of  tributaries  of  the  Holston  and  Ten- 
nessee rivers,  which  enter  the  State  from  North  Carolina 
and  Georgia.  Entangled,  as  it  were,  between  this 
mountain  range  and  its  outliers,  are  a number  of  coves 
and  valleys  of  great  beauty  and  fertility. 

The  second  mountain  chain  is  known  in  Tennessee  as 
the  Cumberland  Mountains,  which  enter  from  South- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  195 

western  Virginia  and  Southeastern  Kentucky,  and  ex- 
tend to  the  Alabama  and  Georgia  line.  This  range 
consists  mainly  of  an  elevated  plateau  or  table-land, 
having  a compartively  level  surface  and  an  elevation  of 
about  2,000  feet.  Its  width  varies  from  thirty  to  sixty 
miles.  Its  eastern  escarpment  is  generally  regular  and 
precipitous.  Walden’s  Ridge,  which  may  be  regarded 
as  an  outlier  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  is  separated 
from  the  main  plateau  by  the  Sequatchie  Valley,  and 
extends  along  its  eastern  base  nearly  across  the  State, 
and  gives  rise  to  some  peaks  which  tower  considerably 
above  the  general  level  of  the  plateau.  South  of  the 
Tennessee  river,  near  Chattanooga,  Lookout  Mountain 
rises  just  within  the  limits  of  Tennessee  and  extends 
into  Georgia.  The  western  face  of  the  plateau  is  much 
fringed  and  notched  by  coves  which  cut  their  way  far 
into  the  mountain.  Some  of  the  western  outliers  form 
peaks  which  rise  to  the  level  of  the  plateau.  This 
mountain  range  forms  the  dividing  line  between  th 
civil  divisions  of  the  State,  known  respectively  as  East 
and  Middle  Tennessee. 

Rivers , Lakes , etc . — Tennessee  has  three  great  rivers 
which,  with  their  tributaries,  constitute  three  great  river 
systems.  The  first  of  these,  as  it  finally  receives  the 
waters  of  the  other  two,  is  the  Mississippi,  which,  in  its 
tortuous,  though  generally  southern  course  for  several 
hundred  miles,  washes  the  western  shores  of  Tennessee. 
The  principal  tributaries  which  empty  into  it  within  the 
State  are  the  Obion,  Forked  Deer  and  Big  Hatchie. 
These  streams,  rising  in  the  interior,  flow  in  a general 
northwesterly  course  until  they  reach  the  alluvial  bottom 
of  the  Mississippi,  when,  taking  a more  southerly  course, 
they  debouch  into  that  stream. 

The  next,  with  regard  to  size,  is  the  Tennessee,  the 


196  Proceedings  of  the 

headwaters  of  which  are  formed  in  the  mountainous 
regions  of  Virginia.  Under  the  name  of  the  Holston  it 
enters  Tennessee  and  forms  a junction  with  French 
Broad  river  near  Knoxville,  where  it  takes  the  name  of 
the  Tennessee.  In  its  course  through  East  Tennessee 
its  volume  is  increased  by  the  waters  of  the  Watauga, 
the  Nola  Chucky,  the  French  Broad,  the  Little  Tennes- 
see, the  Hiawassee  and  other  streams  which  have  their 
sources  in  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina,  the  Ocoee 
from  Georgia  and  smaller  streams  from  the  Cumberland 
Mountains.  Finally,  breaking  through  Walden’s  Ridge 
into  the  Sequatchie  Valley  and  following  the  trough  of 
that  valley,  it  crosses  into  Alabama,  whence  it  again 
returns  to  Tennessee  and  runs  in  a northwesterly  course 
across  the  State  into  Kentucky,  where  it  falls  into  the 
Ohio.  In  its  second  course  through  the  State,  it  sepa- 
rates the  civil  divisions  of  Middle  and  West  Tennessee. 
Its  principal  tributaries,  after  re-entering  the  State,  are 
Duck  river  from  the  east  and  Beech  and  Big  Sandy 
from  the  west.  The  Tennessee  river  is  navigable  at  all 
seasons  from  the  mouth  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  to  the  Muscle 
Shoals  in  Alabama.  Above  these  shoals  it  is  again 
navigable  to  Kingston,  and  in  favorable  seasons,  to 
Knoxville. 

The  Cumberland  river  (the  longest  navigable  river 
for  its  width  in  the  world),  rises  in  Southeastern  Ken- 
tucky, and,  pursuing  a generally  southeasterly  course, 
enters  Tennessee  in  Clay  county.  With  a beautiful 
curve  it  sweeps  toward  the  central  portion  of  the  State, 
and  passes  through  the  city  of  Nashville,  thence  by  a 
northwesterly  course,  it  seeks  an  outlet  into  Kentucky, 
and  empties  into  the  Ohio  at  Smithland.  Its  principal 
tributaries  are  the  Obed,  Roaring,  Caney  Fork,  Har- 
peth  and  Red  rivers.  The  entire  length  of  the  Cum- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  197 

berland  is  about  650  miles,  and,  with  proper  improve- 
ments, it  can  be  made  navigable  for  nearly  600  miles. 

Besides  these  rivers  and  their  tributaries,  there  are 
many  streams  of  smaller  size,  rivers  and  creeks,  which 
furnish  excellent  water-powers.  These,  however,  will 
be  noted  in  the  descriptions  of  the  counties  to  which 
they  pertain. 

In  the  alluvial  valley  of  the  Mississippi  there  are 
many  lakes  and  bayous,  but  only  one  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  demand  special  notice.  Reelfoot  lake  is  a 
curious  body  of  water  lying  between  the  counties  of 
Obion  and  Lake.  It  is  about  eighteen  miles  in  length 
by  from  one  to  three  miles  in  width.  In  many  places 
the  water  is  shallow,  but  at  some  places  is  of  unknown 
depth.  The  waters  have  an  outlet  through  Reelfoot 
creek  into  the  Obion  river.  This  lake  was  formed  by 
the  earthquakes  of  181 1,  which  depressed  the  area  now 
covered  by  water  below  its  former  level.  The  lake  is 
a great  place  of  resort  for  sportsmen  who  have  a fond- 
ness for  the  rod  and  gun,  as  both  fish  and  fowls  are 
found  in  abundance. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

Topographically  considered,  Tennessee  presents  eight 
natural  divisions.  These  divisions  are  described  as  fol- 
lows : 

First,  the  Unaka  division,  including  the  extreme  east- 
ern portion  of  the  State,  and  embracing  a belt  of  country 
from  Virginia  to  the  Georgia  line.  It  includes  the  greater 
portion  of  the  counties  of  Johnson,  Carter,  Greene,  Se- 
vier, Blount,  Monroe  and  Polk,  The  face  of  the  country 
is  exceedingly  rough.  Many  of  the  mountain  peaks  rise 
to  the  altitude  of  from  five  to  six  thousand  feet,  and  are 
on  top  entirely  destitute  of  timber.  The  chains  of 


198 


Proceedings  of  the 

mountain  ridges  are  cut  in  numerous  places  by  deep, 
rocky  channels,  through  which  the  limpid  mountain 
streams  rush  to  the  valley  below.  Nestling  among 
these  giant  Unakas  are  many  beautiful  coves  and  val- 
leys which  afford  homes  for  a contented  and  happy 
people. 

Our  second  division  having  distinct  topographical 
features  is  the  Valley  of  East  Tennessee.  This  division 
extends  across  the  State  from  north  to  south,  being 
limited  on  the  east  by  the  Unakas  and  on  the  west  by 
the  Cumberland  Mountains.  It  is  called  a valley  with 
reference  to  these  mountain  ranges,  and,  with  outlying 
coves  and  valleys,  embraces  in  whole  or  in  part  the  fol- 
lowing counties  : Hancock,  Hawkins,  Grainger,  Union, 
Jefferson,  Knox,  Roane,  Meigs,  Bradley,  Hamblen,  Car- 
ter, Johnson,  Washington,  Greene,  Sevier,  Cocke,  Blount, 
Monroe,  Polk,  Claiborne,  Anderson,  Rhea,  James,  Ham- 
ilton, Bledsoe,  Sequatchie  and  Marion. 

This  so-called  Valley  of  East  Tennessee  is,  in  point 
of  fact,  a succession  of  narrow  ridges  and  valleys,  of 
greater  or  less  width,  trending  from  northeast  to  south- 
west. The  ridges  sometimes  rise  to  the  altitude  of 
mountains.  The  valleys  are  traversed  by  beautiful 
streams,  some  of  which  are  navigable,  and  all  of  which 
afford  abundant  water-power.  This  division  affords 
much  valuable  arable  land  which  has  been  converted 
into  beautiful  farms,  and  which  constitutes  one  of  the 
best  developed  and  most  populous  agricultural  districts 
of  the  State. 

The  Cumberland  Plateau  or  Table  Land  constitutes 
our  third  division,  embracing  the  whole  or  parts  of  the 
following  counties,  to-wit : Scott,  Morgan,  Cumberland, 
Fentress,  Pickett,  Van  Buren,  Bledsoe,  Grundy,  Se-. 
quatchie,  Marion,  Claiborne,  Campbell,  Anderson,  Rhea, 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  199 

Hamilton,  Overton,  Putnam,  White,  Franklin,  Warren 
and  Coffee.  As  this  division  has  already  been  described 
under  the  head  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains  a repeti- 
tion is  unnecessary.  This  is  the  coal  region  of  Ten- 
nessee. 

The  fourth  and  fifth  divisions  must  of  necessity  be 
spoken  of  in  connection  with  each  other,  as  the  fifth  is 
entirely  encircled  by  the  fourth.  In  the  very  centre  of 
the  State  there  is  a depression  of  an  oval  form,  extend- 
ing nearly  across  the  State  from  north  to  south,  having 
in  this  direction  a length  of  about  eighty  miles,  by  a 
breadth  from  east  to  west  of  from  thirty  to  sixty  miles. 
This  depression  is  known  as  the  Great  Central  Basin , 
and  is  our  fifth  division.  Surrounding  this  basin  is  a 
circle  of  highlands,  known  as  the  Highland  Rim  of  Mid- 
dle Tennessee.  This  is  our  fourth  division,  and  extends 
from  the  western  base  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains  to 
the  western  valley  of  the  Tennessee  river,  and  from  the 
northern  to  the  southern  boundary  of  the  State.  This 
highland  rim  has  an  elevation  of  about  1 ,000  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea.  These  highlands,  though  called  a 
rim,  in  many  places  spread  into  extensive  plateaus. 
The  edges  of  the  rim  which  immediately  surround  the 
basin  are  much  cut  and  fringed  by  narrow  valleys  which 
reach  out  into  the  highlands.  The  streams  which  have 
their  sources  at  high  altitudes  have  cut  deep  channels, 
down  which  they  rush  impetuously  over  rapids  or  leap 
in  cataracts  to  the  basin  below.  The  Cumberland  river 
forces  its  way  through  the  surrounding  rim  into  the  cen- 
tral basin,  whence  it  escapes  in  a northwesterly  direc- 
tion. 

The  central  basin  is  essentially  different  in  its  topo- 
graphical features  from  the  surrounding  highlands. 
The  surface  is  generally  undulating,  though  rounded 


200 


Proceedmgs  of  the 

knobs  and  hills  are  frequently  met  with.  The  land  is 
generally  fertile  and  well  adapted  to  cultivation,  though 
considerable  areas  are  found  which  are  covered  with 
shaly  limestone,  which  renders  them  unfit  for  tillage. 

These  two  divisions  extend  over  all  of  the  civil  division 
of  Middle  Tennessee,  except  so  much  of  it  as  lies  upon 
the  Cumberland  Plateau  and  in  the  western  valley  of 
the  Tennessee. 

Our  sixth  division  is  a comparatively  small  one,  being 
restricted  to  the  generally  narrow  and  somewhat  rugged 
valley  of  the  Tennessee  river  in  its  western  passage 
across  the  State  after  its  return  from  Alabama.  This 
valley  is  irregular  in  form ; sometimes  the  ridges  or 
spurs  of  highlands  upon  the  one  side  or  the  other  jut 
quite  into  the  river  bank.  At  some  points  where  the 
valley  has  greater  width  it  is  partly  occupied  with 
lagoons  and  marshes.  Some  points  in  this  valley  pre- 
sent considerable  areas  of  fertile  tillable  land.  On  some 
of  the  tributaries  of  this  stream,  especially  Duck  river 
on  the  eastern  side  and  Big  Sandy  on  the  western,  arms 
of  the  valley  extend  far  into  the  interior  and  have  much 
arable  land.  The  ascent  from  the  valley  on  each  side  is 
generally  abrupt  and  often  precipitous. 

The  seventh  division  comprises  the  great  plateau  or 
Slope  of  West  Tennessee , extending  from  the  valley  last 
described  to  the  bluffs  bordering  the  alluvial  bottom  of 
the  Mississippi.  This  vast  area,  covering  nearly  all  of 
seventeen  counties,  is,  for  the  most  part,  a gently  undu- 
lating plain.  Rising  rapidly  from  the  Tennessee  Valley 
till  an  average  elevation  of  about  700  feet  is  reached, 
this  plateau  then  gradually  falls  off  to  the  west,  or  north- 
west, till  the  western  bluffs  are  reached,  at  a distance  of 
about  100  miles.  Traversing  this  area  are  occasional 
ridges  of  low  hills,  generally  irregular  in  direction,  but 


201 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

with  a tendency  from  northeast  to  southwest.  There  are 
also  numerous  streams,  running  generally  to  the  north- 
west, with  broad  valleys  and  sluggish  currents.  In  some 
localities  these  valleys  are  marshy  and  unfit  for  cultiva- 
tion, but,  taken  as  a whole,  this  section  is  one  of  great 
fertility,  and  capable  of  sustaining  a dense  population. 

The  eighth  and  last  of  these  divisions  embraces  the 
Alluvial  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  so  far  as  it  lies  with- 
in the  limits  of  Tennessee.  On  its  eastern  side,  where 
it  is  outlined  by  the  bluffs,  it  pursues  a tolerable  direct 
line  from  northeast  to  southwest ; but  on  the  western 
side  where  its  limits  are  marked  by  the  devious  course  of 
the  river,  it  is  quite  irregular.  At  Fulton,  Randolph  and 
Memphis  the  river  washes  the  foot  of  the  bluffs,  cutting 
the  valley  into  sections.  The  general  aspect  of  this  val- 
lqy  is  low  and  marshy.  Many  small  lakes  and  lagoons 
are  found  in  its  limits.  It  is  covered  with  dense  growth 
of  timber  and  is  of  exeeding  fertility.  Portions  not 
marshy  are  in  cultivation  and  yield  heavy  crops. 

GEOLOGICAL  FEATURES. 

It  is  no  part  of  my  present  purpose  to  enter,  into  a 
minute  examination  of  the  geology  of  Tennessee,  but 
to  present  merely  such  outline  of  its  various  formations 
as  will  enable  the  intelligent  reader  to  form  a proximate 
estimate  of  the  soils  and  minerals  of  the  various  sec- 
tions of  the  State. 

As  all  soils  have  been  formed  either  by  the  decompo- 
sition of  the  superincumbent  rocks,  gradually  becoming 
intermingled  with  decayed  vegetable  matter,  or  by  the 
deposit  of  earthy  matter  from  water  which  may  at  some 
period  have  covered  the  surface,  it  follows  that  the 
soil  must  be  such  as  results  from  such  decomposition 
and  the  character  of  the  watery  deposits. 


202  Proceedings  of  the 

According  to  geologists,  the  rocks  of  Tennessee  are 
referred  to  eight  different  groups,  containing  the  forma- 
tions of  thirteen  periods.  These,  beginning  from  the 
lower  or  oldest  formation  and  upward  to  the  later  form- 
ations, are  : 

ist.  Metamorphic , Metamorphic  rocks. 

2d.  Lower  Silurian , embracing  the  Potsdam,  Quebec 
and  Trenton  periods. 

3d.  The  Upper  Silurian,  containing  the  Niagara  and 
the  Lower  Helderberg. 

4th.  The  Devonian , with  a single  period,  the  Hamil- 
ton. 

5th.  The  Carboniferous , containing  the  Lower  Car- 
boniferous and  the  Coal  Measure  periods. 

6th.  The  Cretaceous , with  the  Cretaceous  periods. 

7th.  The  Tertiary , with  the  Tertiary  period. 

8th.  The  Quarternary  and  Modern , embracing  the 
Quarternary,  the  Terrace,  and  the  Human  periods. 

These  thirteen  periods  in  their  turn  contain  twenty- 
six  formations : 

1 st.  The  Metamorphic  formation. 

2d.  The  Potsdam , containing  the  Ocoee  and  the  Chil- 
howee  Sandstones. 

3d.  The  Quebec  period  gives  the  Knox  Sandstone, 
the  Knox  Shale,  and  the  Knox  Dolomite. 

4th.  The  Trenton  period  has  the  Trenton  or  Lebanon 
and  the  Nashville  or  Cincinnati  Limestone. 

5th.  The  Niagara  period  has  the  Clinch  Mountain 
Sandstone,  the  White  Oak  Mountain  Sandstone,  the 
Dyestone  group,  and  the  Niagara  Limestone. 

6th.  The  Lower  Helderberg  has  only  the  Helderberg 
Limestones. 

7th.  The  Devonian  period  gives  only  the  Black  Shale. 

8th.  The  Lower  Carboniferous  period  has  the  Barren 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  203 

group,  the  Coral  or  St.  Louis  Limestone  and  the  Moun- 
tain Limestone. 

9th.  The  Coal  Measure  period  contains  only  the  Coal 
Measures. 

10th.  The  Cretaceous  period  contains  the  Coffee  Sands, 
the  Rotten  Limestone  or  Green  Sand  and  the  Ripley 
Sands. 

nth.  The  Tertiary  period  gives  the  Flat  Woods 
Sands  and  Clays,  and  the  Lagrange  Sands. 

1 2th.  The  Qitaidernary  and  Modern  period  furnishes 
the  Orange  Sand  or  Drift,  the  Bluff  Loam  or  Loess  and 
Alluvium. 

These  formations  occupy,  with  more  or  less  distinct- 
ness, different  portions  of  the  State,  and  exercise  their 
special  influence  upon  the  soils  where  they  prevail. 

I shall  briefly  refer  in  this  chapter  to  the  localities  in 
which  they  respectively  prevail,  and  the  general  charac- 
ter of  the  soil  which  they  furnish,  and  the  principal 
minerals  which  they  contain. 

The  Metamorphic  rocks  are  found  only  in  the  limited 
area  occupied  by  the  Unaka  Mountains  on  the  North 
Carolina  border.  The  soil  resulting  from  their  disinte- 
gration is  adapted  to  the  growth  of  wild  grasses,  and 
in  some  localities  yields  a fine  growth  of  timber.  The 
magnetic  Iron  of  Carter  county  and  the  copper  of  Polk 
are  found  in  this  formation. 

The  Ocoee  group,  embracing  conglomerates,  slates 
and  sandstones,  forms  a belt  extending  from  the  Geor- 
gia line,  running  parallel  with  the  North  Carolina  line, 
and  including  portions  of  Polk,  Monroe,  Cocke  and 
Greene  counties.  The  soil  is  of  the  same  general 
character  as  the  preceding,  but  this  section  contains 
interpolated  beds  of  limestone,  which  yields  a more 
generous  soil.  The  greater  part  of  this  section  is  moun- 


204  Proceedings  of  the 

tainous,  but  abounding  in  excellent  summer  pasturage. 
Roofing  slate  and  some  gold  are  found  in  this  formation. 

Chilhowee  Sandstone.  This  rock  is  found  in  the  Chil- 
howee  and  similar  mountains,  outliers  of  the  Unaka 
range.  It  occupies  portions  of  the  eastern  counties  of 
the  State.  The  soil  ,is  of  little  value  for  tillage,  but  the 
mountains  in  summer  are  clothed  with  succulent  grasses. 

Knox  Sandstone  outcrops  in  the  long  narrow  ridges 
which  intersect  East  Tennessee  from  Northeast  to  South- 
west. It  is  found  in  nearly  every  county  in  this  division 
of  the  State.  By  its  resistance  to  erosive  influences,  it 
maintains  a ridge-like  form.  The  soil  which  it  yields 
lacks  fertility.  It  contains  many  valuable  beds  of  iron 
ore  besides  other  minerals. 

Knox  Shale.  This  may  be  called  a group  rather  than 
a single  formation,  as  the  shale  is  largely  intermixed 
with  different  forms  of  calcareous  or  silicious  rocks. 
This  group  occupies  many  beautiful  valleys,  which  tra- 
verse East  Tennessee.  Owing  to  the  presence  of  large 
quantities  of  calcareous  and  siliceous  matter  in  the  soil, 
it  is  highly  productive  and  yields  abundant  crops.  Some 
beds  of  iron  ore  are  found  in  this  formation. 

Knox  Dolomite.  This  formation  occupies  a large  por- 
tion of  the  valley  of  East  Tennessee,  but  is  found  no 
where  else  in  the  State  except  in  a limited  area  in  Hous- 
ton County.  It  is  a Magnesian  limestone  of  great 
thickness.  By  disintegration,  it  affords  an  excellent 
soil.  Much  of  the  fine  arable  land  of  East  Tennessee 
rests  upon  Knox  Dolomite.  This  formation  contains 
many  valuable  beds  of  iron  ore  besides  Galena,  ores  of 
zinc,  manganese,  and  other  minerals. 

Trenton  or  Lebano?i  and  Nashville  or  Cincinnatti  Groups 
These  formations,  for  our  present  purpose,  may  be 
treated  together.  They  consist  mainly  of  blue  lime- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  205 

stone,  but  are  not  homogeneous,  containing  in  many 
places,  chert,  sandstone  and  various  other  rocks. 

In  East  Tennessee,  these  formations  occupy  consider- 
able territory.  They  also  occupy  nearly  the  whole  ex- 
tent of  the  great  central  basin  of  Middle  Tennessee. 
For  fertility  and  adaptation  for  cultivation,  the  soil  re- 
sulting from  these  rocks  is  scarcely  surpassed.  Besides 
the  localities  named,  these  rocks  are  found  in  the  Well’s 
creek  basin,  and  in  the  bed  of  the  Tennessee  river  in 
its  western  valley.  Locally,  these  formations  run  into 
Hydraulic  limestone,  and  in  East  Tennessee  the  Trenton 
contains  many  interpolated  beds  of  beautiful  marble. 

Clinch  Mountain  Sandstone  is  found  principally  in  the 
Southern  faces  of  Clinch,  Powell’s  and  Lone  Mountains, 
in  the  counties  of  Grainger,  Hawkins  and  Hancock. 
The  soil  which  it  yields  is  poor. 

White  Oak  Mount ai?i  Sandstone  is  found  on  White 
Oak,  Lone  and  Powell’s  Mountains.  The  soil  is  of 
little  value,  but  valuable  beds  of  iron  ore  are  found  con- 
nected with  this  formation. 

Dyestone  Group . This  formation  contains  alternating 
layers  of  shale,  sandstone  and  fossiliferous  iron  ore.  It 
is  found  in  narrow  ridges  running  parallel  with  and  near 
the  base  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  extending  with 
only  slight  interruptions  across  the  State.  The  soil, 
though  covering  but  a limited  area,  is  fertile. 

Niagara  Sandstone.  The  outcrops  of  this  formation 
occur  principally  in  the  western  valley  of  the  Tennessse 
river,  and  some  of  the  tributary  valleys  of  that  stream. 
The  Meniscus  limestone,  which  is  the  lowest  member  of 
this  formation,  at  some  points  in  this  section  yields  a 
fair  marble.  The  disintegration  of  this  rock  yields  an 
excellent  soil. 

The  Lower  Helderberg  occurs  in  the  same  region  as 


206  Proceedings  of  the 

the  preceding,  and  though  its  area  is  small,  furnishes 
an  excellent  soil. 

Black  Shale . This  formation  outcrops  at  various 
points  in  Middle  and  East  Tennessee.  Though  a wide- 
spread formation,  being  generally  covered  by  other 
formations,  it  forms  the  basis  of  the  soil  in  only  a few 
unimportant  valleys  in  East  Tennessee.  The  soil  is  not 

Barren  Group.  This  group  is  found  in  linear  outcrops 
in  the  valley  of  East  Tennessee,  where,  however,  it 
does  not  possess  much  importance.  It  occurs  again  in 
the  rim  of  highlands  surrounding  the  central  basin  of 
Middle  Tennessee,  confined  mainly  to  the  inner  circum- 
ference of  the  rim.  It  is  composed  of  heavy  chertz 
layers,  with  more  or  less  limestone,  which  sometimes 
assume  a shaly  character.  The  soil  is  leechy,  though 
produces  luxuriant  growth  of  coarse  grass. 

Coral  or  St.  Louis  Limesto7ie.  This  formation  covers 
by  far  the  larger  part  of  the  Highland  Rim.  It  is  a 
grayish  or  bluish  limestone,  with  chertz  layers  and  fos- 
silliferous  corals.  It  contains  oxide  of  iron  from  decom- 
posed chert,  which  gives  the  soil  a reddish  color.  The 
lime  which  it  contains  makes  it  a truly  calcareous  soil. 
It  is  of  various  degrees  of  fertility,  some  of  it  being 
equal  to  the  best  in  the  State.  It  contains  many  rich 
beds  of  iron  ore. 

Mountam  Limestone.  This  rock  has  its  principal 
exposure  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Cumberland 
plateau,  but  is  found  also  on  the  eastern  face.  Its  geo- 
logical position  is  above  the  coral  or  St.  Louis  limestone. 
By  disintegration  it  yields  a rich,  strong  soil,  giving 
fertility  to  many  of  the  slopes  and  coves  of  the  plateau. 

The  Coal  Measiires  occupy  the  entire  area  of  the 
Cumberland  table-land.  The  formation  is  made  up  of 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 207 

alternating  layers  of  conglomerates,  shales  of  sandstones, 
with  intervening  seems  of  coal.  The  coal  is  bitumin- 
ous, generally  of  good  quality,  and  the  seams  of  varying 
thickness.  The  general  character  of  soil  which  these 
rocks  supply  is  sandy  and  poor,  though  yielding  abun- 
dantly of  coarse  grass,  and  is  adapted  for  the  cultivation 
of  fruits. 

I have  now  briefly  presented  the  leading  geological 
features  of  two  great  divisions  of  our  State,  East  and 
Middle  Tennessee.  The  Geological  formations  of  West 
Tennessee  are  entirely  different  from  those  already  de- 
scribed, being  of  a later  date  and  found  in  less  solidified 
condition.  The  older  formations,  already  described,  ter- 
minate with  more  or  less  abruptness  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  Tennessee  river,  the  line  of  demarcation 
being  for  the  most  part  a short  distance  to  the  west  of 
the  stream,  where  the  beveled  edges  of  the  old  and  new 
formations  meet.  The  great  plateau  or  slope  of  West 
Tennessee  is  supposed  to  have  been  at  some  former 
time  the  bed  of  a lake  or  island  sea  of  unknown  depth, 
which  has  been  filled  up  and  elevated  by  the  operations 
of  natural  forces  in  past  ages.  At  what  time,  or  in 
what  manner  the  dry  land  was  made  to  take  the  place 
of  this  “ old  time  sea,”  I shall  not  undertake  to  discuss. 
My  business  is  with  the  formations  as  they  now  exist. 
These  have  been  referred  to  three  epochs  or  periods  of 
time. 

The  first  of  these  formations  is  the  Coffee  Sand , which 
is  found  immediately  to  the  west  of  the  old  shore  line. 
In  Hardin  County  it  reaches  the  Tennessee  river,  and 
continues  its  course  in  a narrow  belt  parallel  and  near 
to  it  more  than  half  way  across  the  State,  where  it  dis- 
appears. It  is  composed  of  layers  of  sand  and  clay. 
The  sand  usually  contains  small  grains  of  mica  and  frag- 


208  Proceedings  of  the 

ments  of  wood  partially  carbonized.  The  soil  is  of  me- 
dium fertility. 

Green  Sand . This  formation  comes  next  in  order, 
bordering  the  coffee  sand  on  the  west,  and  overlapping 
it  in  many  places.  It  outcrops  over  an  area  a few  miles  in 
width,  and  extends  some  sixty  miles  in  length,  from  the 
southern  line  of  the  State  northwardly.  Beyond  the  area 
of  its  outcrops  it  is  found  as  an  underlying  strata  at  many 
points  westward.  It  is  a clayey  sand  containing  grains 
of  a green  mineral  called  glauconite,  to  which  its  char- 
acteristic color  is  owing.  So  far  as  I know  no  satisfac- 
tory analysis  of  this  material  has  ever  been  made.  It 
is  supposed,  however,  to  possess  valuable  fertilizing  prop- 
erties and  should  be  fairly  tested.  At  various  points 
in  this  belt  there  are  extensive  deposits  of  marine  shells 
in  good  state  of  preservation.  The  soil  is  fairly  produc- 
tive. 

The  Ripley  Group.  This  formation  outcrops  in  a belt 
of  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  in  width,  extending  entirely 
across  the  State  from  the  Mississippi  line.  It  contains 
at  many  places  masses  of  ferruginous  sandstone  of  greater 
or  less  thickness.  These  sandstones  are  composed  of 
siliceous  particles  held  together  by  hydrated  oxide  of 
iron,  and  are  common  to  all  the  sandy  formations  of 
West  Tennessee. 

Of  the  tertiary  formations,  we  have  first,  The  Flat- 
woods  Sands  and  Clays.  This  name  was  given  by  Prof. 
Hilgard,  formerly  State  Geologist  for  Mississippi,  but 
our  own  eminent  Geologist,  Dr.  Safford,  designates  it 
as  the  Porter  s Creek  Group.  It,  like  the  preceding  for- 
mations, is  composed  of  alternating  layers  of  sands  and 
clays,  though  the  proportions  of  laminated  clays  is  much 
larger,  being  at  some  places  from  fifty  to  one  hundred 
feet  in  thickness.  These  clays  are  usually  dark  when 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  209 

wet,  but  become  grayish  when  dry.  At  some  points  they 
are  white  and  are  used  to  a limited  extent  for  the  manu- 
facture of  pottery,  and  are  thought  to  be  suited  for  the 
manufacture  of  porcelain.  The  sands  are  white,  buff, 
yellow  or  variegated.  This  belt, like  the  preceding,  ex- 
tends entirely  across  the  State.  Prof.  Safford  gives  it  a 
width  of  not  more  than  eight  miles.  My  own  observa- 
tion, however,  leads  to  the  belief  that  the  area  has  a 
greater  width  than  is  given  by  Prof.  Safford.  The  soil 
is  of  the  same  general  character  as  the  formations  al- 
ready described. 

The  LaGrange  Sands.  This  group  occupies  quite  a 
considerable  portion  of  West  Tennessee,  being  in  width 
approximately  given  at  forty  miles,  and  extending  from 
north  to  south  quite  across  the  State.  It  is  bounded  on 
the  east  by  the  Porter’s  Creek  group,  and  on  the  west  by 
the  Bluff  Loam  or  Loess , next  to  be  described.  The 
eastern  portion  of  this  area  is  broken  into  gentle  hills  or 
ridges,  while  the  western  part  is  more  level.  The  soil 
possesses  great  fertility.  As  an  agricultural  region,  it 
is  of  great  value. 

Bluff  Loam,  or  Loess.  This  is  a deposit  of  fine  sili- 
cious  loam  crowning  the  uplands  of  the  western  tier  of 
counties.  It  extends  westwardly  to  the  bluffs  which  bor- 
der the  Mississippi  river.  At  some  points  it  is  broken 
into  hills,  but  where  level  or  undulating,  the  soil  is  of  ex- 
cellent quality  and  constitutes  one  of  the  finest  farming 
sections  in  the  State. 

Alluvium.  This  is  the  last  formation  to  be  noticed. 
It  is  not  confined  to  any  one  section  of  the  State,  but  is 
found  in  the  lowlands  or  bottoms  along  the  course  of 
nearly  all  our  rivers.  It  occupies  the  entire  area  be- 
tween the  bluffs  and  the  Mississippi  river.  Much  of  it 
is  subject  to  overflow.  The  soil  is  of  the  richest. 

*4 


210 


Proceedings  of  the 


COAL. 

The  superficial  area  in  the  State  of  Tennessee  cov- 
ered by  coal-bearing  strata,  amounts  to  5,100  square 
miles,  but  this  does  not  fairly  represent  the  amount  of 
coal  in  the  State,  as  all  this  area  has  at  leaist  one  seam 
of  coal,  a large  proportion  more  than  two,  and  a very 
considerable  area  has  six  or  more  working  seams.  It 
is  thus  seen  that  the  mere  area  of  a coal-field  may  be  a 
a very  poor  indication  of  the  quantity  of  coal  it  contains, 
and  without  an  examination  into  the  thickness  of  the 
seams,  and  the  quality  of  the  coal  therein,  any  judgment 
formed  from  area  alone  may  be  very  incorrect.  Mis- 
souri contains  vastly  more  coal  area  than  Tennessee, 
yet  one  seam  in  Tennessee  is  worth  more  for  economic 
purposes  than  all  the  coal  of  Missouri. 

In  Pennsylvania  there  is  a formation  under  the  regular 
coal  series  known  as  the  False  Coal  Measures,  having 
only  thin  bands  of  coal  ; in  Tennessee  these  measures 
contain  several  workable  seams  of  coal  of  excellent 
quality.  The  Lower  and  Upper  Measures  of  Pennsyl- 
vania also  appear  in  this  State,  but  the  great  mass  of 
rocks  of  the  barren  measures  appear  in  much  reduced 
thickness.  It  is  thus  seen  that  while  Tennessee  has  all 
the  bituminous  coals  of  Pennsylvania,  this  State  has 
also  a coal-bearing  strata  which  in  that  is  bare  of  any 
productive  seams.  While  the  area  covered  by  our  coal 
field  is  not  so  large,  yet  it  is  probable  that  we  have  as 
much  or  more  of  this  mineral  fuel — the  anthracite  field 
excepted — than  the  great  iron  State. 

The  Tennessee  coal  field  belongs  to  that  division 
known  in  geology  as  the  Appalachian  Coal  Field,  which, 
commencing  in  Pennsylvania,  extends  over  Ohio,  Ken- 
tucky, West  Virginia,  Tennessee,  and  ends  in  Alabama. 
While  its  width  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  extends 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  2 1 1 

through  nearly  four  degrees  of  longitude,  at  the  north- 
ern boundary  of  Tennessee  it  is  only  about  seventy- 
one  miles,  and  at  its  southern  boundary  fifty  miles.  In 
its  southern  course  into  Alabama,  it  expands  into  a 
heart-shaped  area  one  hundred  miles  or  more  in  width. 
The  area  of  this  coal-field  in  Tennessee  includes  within 
its  limits  the  counties  of  Scott,  Morgan,  Cumberland, 
the  greater  parts  of  Fentress,  Van  Buren,  Bledsoe, 
Grundy,  Sequatchie  and  Marion,  considerable  parts  of 
Claiborne,  Campbell,  Anderson,  Rhea,  Roane,  Overton, 
Hamilton,  Putnam,  White  and  Franklin,  and  small 
portions  of  Warren  and  Coffee. 

The  Cumberland  Table-land  has  generally  a broad, 
flat  top,  capped  with  a layer  of  conglomerate  sandstone, 
averaging  perhaps  seventy  feet  in  thickness.  This 
layer  of  sandstone  on  the  western  edges  of  the  table- 
land forms  a steep  escarpment  or  brow,  bold,  distinct, 
and  well  marked  from  twenty  to  one  hundred,  and 
sometimes  two  hundred  feet  high.  Beneath  this  often 
overhanging  brow,  the  steep,  woody  slopes  of  the  sides 
begin  and  run  down  to  the  low  lands.  These  slopes 
below  the  cliffs  usually  rest  against  the  lower  Coal 
Measures  and  upon  the  Mountain  Limestone.  The 
eastern  outline  of  the  Cumberland  Table-land  is,  for 
some  distance,  a nearly  direct  line,  making,  however, 
a curve,  and  taking  in  portions  of  Roane,  Anderson 
and  Campbell  counties.  The  western  edge  is  jagged, 
notched  by  innumerable  coves  and  valleys,  and  present- 
ing a scalloped  or  ragged  countour,  with  outlying  knobs 
separated  from  the  main  Tablel-and  by  deep  ravines  or 
fissures.  In  the  southern  portion,  near  the  eastern  side, 
is  a deep  gorge,  canoe-shaped,  with  steep  escarpments 
rising  eight  hundred  to  one  thousand  feet  above  the 
valley,  through  which  the  Sequatchie  river  flows.  This 


212  Proceedings  of  the 

is  the  Sequatchie  valley,  which  separates  the  lower  end 
of  the  Table-land  into  two  distinct  arms.  Through  the 
eastern  arm  the  Tennessee  river  breaks,  and  after  flow- 
ing down  the  valley  for  a distance  of  sixty  miles,  turns 
at  Guntersville,  Alabama,  and  soon  afterwards  cuts 
through  the  western  arm  fifty  miles  from  the  Tennessee 
line.  This  Sequatchie  Trough  is  one  hundred  and  sixty 
miles  in  length,  the  Tennessee  end  being  sixty  miles, 
and  the  Alabama  end  one  hundred. 

The  eastern  arm  of  the  coal-field,  on  the  western 
side  of  which  this  remarkable  valley  passes,  is  six  to 
eight  miles  wide.  Between  the  Tennessee  river  and 
the  Nashville  & Chattanooga  Railroad,  it  is  called  Rac- 
coon mountain.  Separated  from  this  by  Wills’  valley, 
rises  up,  in  massive  proportions,  Lookout  mountain. 
The  latter  is  an  outlier  of  the  Cumberland  Table-land, 
and  geologically  is  closely  allied  to  it. 

Passing  now  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  coal  re- 
gion, we  find  a quadrilateral  block  almost  severed  from 
the  mountain  mass  by  the  valleys  of  Elk  Fork  and  Cove 
creek,  the  former  running  wortheast  and  emptying  into 
the  Cumberland  river,  the  latter  running  southeast  into 
the  Clinch  river. 

The  average  height  of  the  Cumberland  Table-land  is 
two  thousand  feet  above  tidewater,  but  some  of  the 
ridges  of  the  northeast  part  rise  to  a much  greater 
height,  reaching  at  places,  as  at  Cross  mountain,  3,370 
feet,  and  at  Butt  mountain,  near  Coal  creek,  3,500. 
The  valley  of  Cove  creek  is  2,300  feet  lower  than  the 
high  points  of  Cross  mountain.  The  part  of  the  valley 
of  East  Tennessee  immediately  contiguous  to  the 
mountain  is  about  1,000  feet  above  the  sea,  so  that, 
viewed  from  that  valley,  the  Cumberland  Table-land 
stands  out  with  singular  boldness  and  sharpness  of  out- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  213 

line.  Everywhere  in  the  northern  part  it  is  marked  by 
a succession  of  cliffs,  elevated  one  above  the  other,  with 
intervening  wooded  slopes.  On  the  eastern  side,  par- 
allel with  the  main  mountain  mass,  and  separated  from 
it  by  a narrow  vale,  is  a steep,  roof-like  sandstone  ridge, 
with  the  layers  upturned  on  their  edges,  the  only  access 
being  through  a few  gaps  like  that  of  Coal  creek.  This 
ridge  is  known  as  Walden’s  ridge.  Following  this  ridge 
southward,  the  name  is  applied  to  the  whole  arm  between 
Sequatchie  valley  and  the  valley  of  East  Tennessee. 

We  have  said  that  this  coal  region  is  sheeted  with  a 
thick  conglomerate  sandstone,  but  upon  this  sheet,  a 
short  distance  from  the  edges  of  the* precipices,  other 
strata  are  superimposed,  rising  in  some  places  1,000 
feet  and  more  above  the  conglomerate  or  general  sur- 
face, and  forming,  as  it  were,  mountains  upon  the  top  of 
the  table-land.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  coal  region, 
its  plateau  character  is  destroyed  by  these  superincum- 
bent mountains. 

While  there  should  be  a division  of  the  Tennessee 
Coal-field  into  Lower,  Middle  and  Upper  measures,  from 
the  fact  that  the  False  measures  contain  workable  coal, 
and  that  the  true  Upper  measures  only  appear  north  of 
Emery  river,  yet  the  line  of  demarcation  between  the 
two  last  has  not  been  so  well  defined,  and  the  usual 
classification  has  been  into  Upper  and  Lower  measures, 
the  division  being  the  thick  conglomerate  which  gives 
the  cliff-like  appearance  to  the  mountain  on  its  western 
side.  The  second  conglomerate,  or  sandstone,  which 
caps  the  plateau  throughout  its  length,  is  over  what 
should  be  called  the  Middle  measures,  really  the  Lower 
measures  of  Pennsylvania.  A section  made  near  Tracy 
City,  by  Dr.  Safford,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  different 
strata  and  their  relative  positions  at  that  place. 


214 


Proceedings  of  the 

Beginning  at  the  top  and  descending,  as  though  in  a 
well  or  shaft,  we  have  this  Sewanee  section. 

13.  Conglomerate;  cap  rock  of  the  upper  plateau  and  the  upper- 


most stratum  in  the  region 50  feet. 

12.  Coal  a few  inches  (G) 

11.  Shale 23  feet. 

10.  Coal  outcrop  (F) : yz  foot. 

9.  Dark  Clayey  Shale 1 foot. 

,8.  Sandy  Shale 25  feet. 

7.  Sandstone 86  feet. 

6.  Shale,  more  or  less  sandy 45  feet. 

5.  Coal,  Main  Sewanee,  from  (E) 3 to  7 ft. 

4.  Shale,  some  of  it  sandy 45  feet. 

3.  Coal,  outcrop  (D) 1 foot. 

2.  Shale 3 feet. 

1.  Sandstone 17  feet. 


Total 200  feet. 


We  here  reach  the  bottom  of  the  Upper  coal  measures, 
and  come  to  the  thick  conglomerate  that  caps  the  whole 
coal  region.  Decending,  we  pass  succesively  through 


Conglomerate 70  feet. 

10.  Coal,  outcrop  from  (C) ]/2  to  1 ft. 

9.  Shale,  with  clay  at  top 10  feet. 

8.  Sandstone,  Cliff  Rock  (Lower  Conglomerate  of  ^Etna  Mines)  ...  65  feet. 

7.  Coal,  outcrop  from  (B) y2  to  \ ]/z  ft. 

6.  Shale,  with  a few  inches  of  adulterated  clay  at  top 8 feet. 

5.  Sandy  Shale 22  feet. 

4.  Sandstone,  hard 78  feet. 

3.  Coal,  has  occasional  shale  above  and  below  it ; the  coal  from  (A)  1 to  3 ft. 

2.  Hard  Sandstone,  local 20  feet. 

1.  Shale,  including  a thin  sandstone 20  feet. 


Total 228  feet. 


Including  the  Upper  and  Lower  coal  measures,  there 
are  seven  strata  of  coal,  aggregating  a thickness  of  from 
seven  to  fourteen  and  a half  feet.  Many  of  these  beds, 
however,  are  too  thin  to  work,  and  are  given  merely  to 
show  the  extent  of  the  coal  measures. 

The  Lower  measures,  though  irregular  and  uncertain, 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 215 

supply  a large  amount  of  coal  in  White,  Putnam,  Over- 
ton,  Fentress,  Franklin,  and  Marion  counties.  The 
seams  in  these  counties  are  of  good  thickness  and  afford 
coal  of  excellent  quality. 

The  main  seam  of  the  Upper  measures  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  Table-land  is  the  Sewanee.  This  seam 
will  average  four  and  a half  feet  in  thickness,  its  largest 
development  being  ten  feet  four  inches,  and  its  least  two 
feet. 

The  Sewanee  seam  furnishes  a larger  amount  of  coal 
than  any  other  single  seam  in  Tennessee,  and  has  all 
the  qualities  that  combine  to  make  a useful  and  valuable 
coal.  It  varies  in  some  of  its  characteristics  and  con- 
stituents in  different  localities,  but  that  is  a common  freak 
of  all  coal  seams  in  every  coal-field.  It  makes  a good 
coke,  is  a good  steam-making  coal,  makes  a hot,  durable 
fire  in  the  grate  and  is  nearly  free  from  sulphur.  It  is 
found  at  a certain  elevation  all  over  the  Table-land,  but 
in  the  horizontal  strata  of  the  Coal  creek  and  Winter’s 
Gap  section  of  the  field  it  has  probably  sunk  far  beneath 
the  surface.  It  is  the  main  seam  of  Walden’s  ridge, 
and  continues  with  much  persistency  from  Chattanooga 
to  Coal  creek.  Where  the  ridge  is  regular  in  surface, 
and  the  strata  in  place,  the  seam  is  of  regular  thickness 
and  easily  worked  with  a certainty  of  obtaining  a con- 
stant supply,  but  where  the  strata  are  broken  by  ravines 
or  gorges,  it  is  also  disturbed,  sometimes  lost  entirely, 
and  again  rising  into  great  thickness 

Walden’s  ridge  is  an  outlier  of  the  Cumberland  Table- 
land, for  the  greater  part  of  its  length  a vast  wall  of  up- 
turned rocks,  ranging  from  six  hundred  to  twelve  hun- 
dred feet  high.  This  singular  formation  is  best  seen 
north  of  Big  Emery  Gap.  A base  line  drawn  horizon- 
tally through  the  ridge  would  probably  give  a width  of 


216  Proceedings  of  the 

1,200  feet.  The  line  of  demarcation  between  the  in- 
clined strata  of  Walden’s  ridge  and  the  horizontal  layers 
of  the  Cumberland  mountains  is  sharp  and  well  defined. 
Within  a few  feet  one  steps  from  the  almost  vertical 
sandstones  of  Walden’s  ridge  to  those  of  the  Cumber- 
land Table-land  lying  horizontal.  Behind  he  sees  the 
steep  inclined  crags  of  Emery  Gap,  and  in  front  the 
shales,  slates,  and  sandstones  lying  on  the  other.  This 
ridge  is  most  continuous  and  conspicuous  in  its  tilted 
strata  from  Big  Emery  Gap  to  near  Careyville,  but  those 
peculiar  characteristics  are  gradually  lessened  to  the 
southwest  from  Emery  Gap,  until  near  Chattanooga  the 
dip  of  the  strata  is  very  slight,  and  its  top,  instead  of 
being  a narrow  ridge,  flattens  out  into  a plateau  six  to 
eight  miles  wide.  The  greatest  action  of  the  downthrow, 
therefore,  took  place  between  Emery  Gap  and  Carey- 
ville, and  to  its  action,  says  Prof.  Lesley,  is  due  the 
preservation  of  the  numerous  beds  of  coal  in  the  high 
mountains  on  Poplar  creek,  at  Winter’s  Gap,  and  on 
Coal  creek. 

It  has  been  assumed  that  the  inclined  seams  of  Wal- 
den’s ridge  pass  down  under  the  surface  strata  of  the 
Cumberland  mountains,  and  become  as  nearly  horizon- 
tal as  the  coals  of  that  formation.  No  accurate  demon- 
stration of  this  has  ever  been  made,  but  the  record  of  the 
borings  of  the  salt  well  at  Winter’s  Gap,  though  not 
strictly  accurate,  gives  an  idea  upon  which  may  be  based 
some  foundation  for  the  truth  of  this  theory.  The  salt 
well  was  originally  bored  by  Prof.  Estabrook,  but  allowed 
to  fill  up.  Lately  another  was  bored  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Reed, 
of  Ohio. 

On  the  western  side  of  the  coal  field  the  general  dip 
of  the  strata  is  slightly  to  the  northeast.  The  elevation 
of  the  sub-carboniferous  limestone  on  the  mountain  side 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  217 

near  Tracy  City  is  about  sixteen  hundred  feet  above  the 
sea.  On  a direct  east  line,  near  the  foot  of  Walden’s 
ridge,  the  same  rock  is  only  about  nine  hundred  feet 
above  the  sea;  on  the  line  of  the  Tennessee  & Pacific 
road,  in  Putnam  county,  the  limestone  is  about  fourteen 
hundred  feet  above  the  sea,  while  in  a direct  east  line, 
near  Winter’s  Gap,  in  the  valley,  it  is  only  eight  hun- 
dred feet  above  sea  level.  The  level  of  the  valley  at 
Cowan  is  nine  hundred  and  seventy-three  feet  above 
sea  level,  and  the  level  of  the  Sewanee  seam  at  Tracy 
City  is  nine  hundred  and  forty-nine  feet  higher.  This 
seam  dips  to  the  southeast  about  eight  feet  to  the  mile  ; 
hence  from  its  location  in  Fentress,  in  the  fifty  miles 
distance  to  Winter’s  Gap,  it  would  be  deep  down  under 
the  horizontal  strata  of  the  high  mountains,  though 
coming  up  again  above  the  valley  in  Walden’s  ridge. 

Towering  high  above  the  valley,  in  Anderson,  Morgan 
and  Campbell  counties,  is  the  series  of  mountains  here- 
tofore mentioned.  They  reach  an  altitude  of  over  3,500 
feet  above  sea  level,  and  contain  coal  seams  to  their  very 
summits.  Mere  is  the  equivalent  of  the  Upper  measures 
of  Pennsylvania.  And  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  the  car- 
boniferous strata  in  this  region,  estimating  by  the  data 
derived  from  the  boring  of  the  salt  well  at  Winter’s  Gap, 
attain  a thickness  of  full  4,000  feet  in  a direct  vertical 
line  from  the  top  of  the  American  Knob,  or  Brushy 
Mountain,  to  the  lowest  sub-conglomerate  coal.  At 
Careyville  Prof.  Safford  determined  the  elevation  of 
Cross  Mountain,  with  nine  seams  of  coal,  to  be  3,370 
feet  above  the  sea,  and  2,329  feet  above  the  valley. 
This  is  at  the  northeastern  end  of  the  Upp£r  measures, 
as  the  still  higher  Brushy  Mountain  is  near  the  south- 
western end.  In  this  distance  of  about  forty  miles,  is 
the  series  of  high  ranges  and  peaks  alluded  to  above. 


2 I 8 


Proceedings  of  the 

Hence,  we  have  in  this  district  an  area  of  about  2,000 
square  miles,  the  greater  portion  of  which  contains, 
above  water  level,  from  four  to  seven  seams  of  coal 
over  three  feet  thick  ; thus  showing,  in  this  part  of  the 
Tennessee  coal-field  alone,  an  extent  of  thickness  and  a 
number  of  seams,  available  in  the  future,  beyond  the 
previous  calculations  of  geologists. 

The  largest  mining  operation  on  the  Tennessee  coal- 
field is  that  of  the  Tennessee  Coal,  Iron  & Railroad 
Company  at  Tracy  City.  The  seam  of  coal  worked 
there  is  known  as  the  Sewanee  seam,  and  is  so  marked 
in  the  section  previously  given.  The  qualities  of  this 
coal  have  also  been  spoken  of  in  the  preceding  pages. 
They  work  four  different  mines,  and  besides  selling  coal, 
have  600  ovens  for  making  coke.  The  company  owns  a 
railroad  twenty-three  miles  long,  which  connects  their 
mines  with  the  main  line  of  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga 
& St.  Louis  road  at  Cowan  ; and  they  also  own  three 
iron  furnaces,  one  at  Cowan  and  two  at  South  Pitts- 
burg. They  also  have  other  coal  mines  and  coke  ovens 
at  Victoria,  in  Sequatchie  Valley.  The  coke  from  the 
latter  almost  entirely  goes  to  South  Pittsburg  furnaces. 
This  company  has  a capital  of  $3,000,000,  most  of  which 
is  held  in  New  York,  and  they  employ  about  1,500  la- 
borers. 

The  Coal  Creek  Mining  & Manufacturing  Company 
is  a corporation  owning  many  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
Anderson  county,  on  which  it  has  given  leases  for  coal 
mining,  but  the  company  itself  does  not  mine  any  coal. 
Coal  creek,  in  Anderson  county,  is  the  locality  where 
the  mining  is  carried  on.  There  are  now  five  companies 
engaged  in  mining  there  under  leases.  The  Coal  Creek 
Mining  & Manufacturing  Company,  and  two  other  com- 
panies, mine  lands  of  their  own.  The  joint  product 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  219 

shipped  from  this  locality  amounts  to  about  150,000  tons 
per  annum.  The  coal  here  mined  is  entirely  used  for 
domestic  and  steam  purposes,  and  for  making  gas.  It 
finds  an  outlet  to  market  over  the  Knoxville  & Ohio 
Railroad  to  Knoxville,  and  thence  south  and  east  by  the 
East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia  Railroad.  The 
largest  mining  operation  is  carried  on  by  the  Knoxville 
Iron  Company.  They  employ  about  1 50  miners  and 
other  laborers,  and  ship  about  100,000  tons  of  coal  per 
annum.  The  company  also  owns  a large  rolling  mill 
and  foundry  in  Knoxville. 

The  Roane  Iron  Company,  at  Rockwood,  on  the  Cin- 
cinnati Southern  Railroad,  mines  coal  for  use  in  their 
iron  furnaces,  but  does  not  furnish  any  for  shipment. 
They  mine  about  60,000  tons  per  annum. 

The  Soddy  Company’s  mines  at  Rathburn  Station,  on 
the  same  railroad,  are  the  next  largest  mines  in  opera- 
tion. They  mine  both  for  shipment  in  the  raw  state 
and  made  into  coke.  Their  product  amounts  to  50,000 
tons. 

The  Oakdale  Iron  Company  mines  from  the  Poplar 
Creek  Coal-field  at  Winter’s  Gap  a large  quantity  of 
coal  which  is  made  into  coke  for  their  furnace.  Their 
present  output  reaches  over  120  tons  per  day,  and  prep- 
arations are  being  made  to  increase  it  so  as  to  ship  coal 
next  winter.  Their  coal  is  of  the  very  best  quality. 
They  own  a narrow-guage  railroad  sixteen  miles  long, 
which  connects  with  the  Cincinnati  Southern  at  Oakdale 
Junction. 

The  Etna  Mining  Company  owns  mines  on  the  Nash- 
ville, Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  Railroad,  about  fourteen 
miles  from  Chattanooga.  ’Their  coal  is  of  very  superior 
quality  for  blacksmith’s  purposes,  as  is  also  the  coke 
made  from  it  for  use  in  foundries.  They  mine  about 


220  Proceedings  of  the 

25,000  tons  per  annum,  of  which  fully  one-half  is  made 
into  coke. 

The  other  mining  operations  of  the  State  are  : 

The  Campbell  County  Coal  Company,  Careyville, 
Knoxville  & Ohio  Railroad. 

The  Crooke  Coal  Company,  Glen  Mary,  on  the  Cin- 
cinnati Southern  Railroad.  This  is  a concern  of  consid- 
erable magnitude,  and  has  capacity  to  ship  600  tons 
per  day. 

The  Helenwood  Coal  Company,  Helenwood,  on  the 
same  railroad,  is  owned  by  the  same  company.  They 
have  well  opened  mines. 

The  Walden’s  Ridge  Coal  Company  operates  on  the 
mountain  near  Spring  City.  They  have  a narrow-guage 
road  nearly  finished. 

The  Dayton  Coal  Company  is  an  English  concern 
which  has  for  many  years  owned  lands  near  Dayton,  in 
Rhea  county,  and  now  propose  active  operations. 

These  companies  are  more  fully  noticed  by  a letter  in 
the  appendix. 

The  Daisy  Coal  Company,  Melville  ; Parkes  & Co. 

The  Chattanooga  Coal  Company,  Chattanooga.  This 
is  a new  company,  who  have  commenced  operations  on 
a very  large  scale  on  the  top  of  Walden’s  Ridge,  near 
Chattanooga.  They  have  a narrow-guage  road  seven 
miles  long,  and  have  made  every  preparation  for  a large 
output.  Hon.  E.  A.  James  is  president  of  the  company. 

A new  company  is  about  operating  at  North  Chicka- 
mauga. 

Near  the  University  of  the  South,  several  small  mines 
are  worked,  chiefly  by  the  University  Coal  Company. 

In  White  county  two  or  three  mines  are  worked  for 
local  purposes  by  John  Barnes  & Sons.  The  comple- 
tion of  the  McMinnville  branch  of  the  Nashville,  Cincin- 


Souther n Immigration  Association.  221 

nati  & St.  Louis  Railroad  will  give  them  opportunity 
for  shipment. 

The  total  coal  product  of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  for 
the  year  1881,  is  not  far  from  600,000  tons. 

The  prices  of  coal  for  the  month  of  January,  1882, 
were  : 

In  Knoxville  : Domestic  coal,  at  yards  in  the  city, 
$3-75  Per  ton  °f  2,000  pounds;  delivered,  25  cents 
more  ; steam  coal,  on  cars  in  the  city,  $ 2.20  per  ton. 

In  Morristown:  Domestic  coal,  $4.7°;  steam  coal, 
$3-50- 

In  Jonesboro  : Domestic  coal,  $v 5.00 . 

In  Athens,  $4.80. 

In  Cleveland,  $4.25. 

Low  rates  of  freight  are  made  by  the  East  Tennessee, 
Virginia  & Georgia  Railroad  for  steam  coal. 

In  Chattanooga:  Coal  Creek  coal,  domestic,  $3.50 
per  ton;  Soddy  coal,  domestic,  $3.25  per  ton;  Soddy 
coal,  for  steam,  $3.00  ; Sewanee  and  Dade  coke,  $2.50 
to  $3.00  per  ton;  extra  foundry  coke,  12 y2  cents  per 
bushel. 

In  Nashville  : Domestic,  lump,  $3.80  per  ton,  deliv- 
ered ; small,  for  cooking,  $3.20;  steam  coal  on  cars, 
run  of  mines,  $2.70;  slack,  $1.80;  lump,  $3.00  per  ton 
of  2,000  pounds;  anthracite,  $ 10.00  to  $12.00  per  ton. 

Freight  on  the  railroads  three-fourths  to  one  cent  per 
ton  per  mile  for  over  twenty- five  miles. 

IRON  ORES. 

The  State  of  Tennessee  contains  every  variety  of  iron 
ore  known  to  commercial  use,  except  the  Spathic  Car- 
bonate. The  ^rea  of  the  Magnetic  ores,  and  of  the 
azoic  Hematites  is  not  large,  yet  in  the  limited  area 
where  found,  the  magnetic  ore  exists  in  large  quantity. 


222  Proceedings  of  the 

The  mass  of  unaltered  deposit  ores,  however,  is  beyond 
the  possibility  of  any  accurate  computation,  and  the  area 
in  which  they  are  contained  comprises  nearly  three- 
fourths  of  the  State. 

Geographically,  these  ores  may  be  classed  as  the  East 
Tennessee  Iron  Region,  the  Cumberland  Mountain  Iron 
Region,  and  the  Middle  Tennessee  Iron  Region.  Geo- 
logically, they  belong  to  the  Metamorphic,  the  Lower 
and  Upper  Silurean,  the  Sub-Carboniferous,  and  the 
Carboniferous  periods.  Physically,  they  are  vein,  strat- 
ified and  deposit  ores  ; and  in  practical  nomenclatius  of 
ores,  they  are  magnetic,  specular,  red  hematite,  or  real- 
ly hematite,  limonite,  frequently  called  brown  hematite, 
red  fossil  or  lenticular  red  hematite,  and  carbonate  of 
iron.  Of  these  ores,  those  now  used  in  the  State  are 
only  the  limonites  and  red  fossil.  The  magnetics  have 
been  mined,  and  some  years  ago  used  in  a small  way  in 
forges,  but  none  have  yet  been  used  in  blast  furnaces  or 
shipped  to  any  market,  and  the  azoic  hematites  are 
known  only  by  small  openings  and  specimens  of  more  or 
less  size. 

The  limonites  are  found  over  the  largest  territory  and 
have  been  most  generally  used  of  the  two  chief  ores  of 
iron.  They  are  found  in  nearly  every  county  of  the 
State  in  greater  or  less  quantities,  from  the  North  Caro- 
lina line  to  the  sand  belt  which  borders  on  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  In  some  counties  the  quantity  is  enormous, 
in  others  only  scattered  specimens,  and  the  quality  is 
equally  variable ; some  beds  are  almost  chemically  free 
from  phosphorus  or  sulphur,  while  in  others  those  injuri- 
ous elements  are  found  to  a greater  or  less  extent. 

In  East  Tennessee,  this  ore  lies  in  a series  of  ridges 
running  northeast  to  southwest;  its  greatest  develop- 
ments being  on  the  east  side  on  the  western  slopes  of 


So7ithern  Immigration  Associatio7i.  223 

the  Chilhowee  and  Unaka  mountains  and  their  tributary 
ridges.  Throughout  the  entire  breadth  of  the  State  in 
the  counties  of  Johnson,  Carter,  Unicoi,  Washington, 
Greene,  Cocke,  Sevier,  Blount,  Monroe  and  Polk,  they 
may  truly  be  said  to  be  one  continuous  bed  of  limonite, 
at  some  points  in  immense  masses  like  stratified  or  boul- 
der rocks,  and  at  others  intermingled  with  the  soil,  but 
yielding  large  quantities  of  ore  when  subjected  to  the 
process  of  washing.  The  ores  of  this  lead  are  all  in  the 
lower  silurean,  and  usually  lie  in  slates  or  between  the 
Chilowee  sandstones,  and  the  dolomites  of  the  Knox  or 
Quebec  periods,  frequently  intermingled  or  deposited  be- 
tween masses  of  the  latter.  In  this  position,  it  is  found 
in  a matrix  of  red  or  yellow  clay,  from  the  size  of  coarse 
sand  to  large  boulders.  These  are  the  ores  from  which 
a large  part  of  the  iron  of  the  United  States  was  made 
in  times  past,  and  many  beds  are  now  worked  in  Penn- 
sylvania, New  York  and  Massachusetts,  from  which  ore 
was  taken  a hundred  years  ago.  The  unsystematic  and 
robbery-like  character  of  obtaining  the  ore  from  many  of 
the  banks  in  Tennessee  has  greatly  impared  their  value, 
and  in  some  cases  apparently  exhausted  the  supply  of 
ore. 

The  limonite  of  this  lead  varies  very  greatly  in  quality, 
some  being  very  free  from  any  impurity,  almost  pure  hy- 
drated oxide  of  iron,  but  the  greater  part  contains  silica, 
alumina,  phosphorus  and  sulphur  in  greater  or  less  pro- 
portions, none  to  such  an  extent  as  to  make  it  worthless. 
In  some  beds  manganese  prevails  in  such  proportion  as 
to  make  the  manufacture  of  speigeleisen  or  ferro-man- 
ganese  a possible  source  of  profit.  These  deposits  be- 
come more  vast  in  size  toward  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  State,  and  the  deposits  on  Tellico  river  and  Lee’s 
creek,  between  the  Little  Tennessee  and  Hiwassee 


224  Proceedings  of  the 

rivers,  challenge  the  admiration  of  the  geologist  and 
practical  iron  manufacturer. 

At  intervals  in  every  ridge  of  the  Knox  dolomite  for- 
mation beds  of  limonite  are  found,  some  of  them  appear 
to  be  of  considerable  extent,  though  but  few  of  them  have 
been  opened.  When  opened,  the  quality  of  the  ore  has 
proven  to  be  good.  On  the  summit  of  the  Walden’s 
Ridge,  at  various  points  from  Emery  Gap  to  Careyville, 
beds  of  limonite  are  found,  which  are  no  doubt  the  result 
of  local  change  of  the  carbonate  of  iron  of  the  coal  for- 
mation. 

The  largest  body  of  limonites  in  the  State  is  found  in 
Middle  Tennessee,  in  what  has  been  usually  called  the 
Western  Iron  Belt.  This  vast  deposit  covers  irregularly 
an  area  forty  miles  wide  and  extending  entirely  across 
the  State  from  north  to  south.  It  comprises  the  entire 
area  of  the  counties  of  Wayne,  Lawrence,  Lewis,  Perry, 
Hickman,  Humphreys,  Dickson,  Houston,  Montgomery, 
Stewart,  Benton,  Decatur,  and  part  of  Hardin. 

The  surface  geology  of  this  region  belongs  to  the 
sub-carboniferous.  It  is  in  fact  the  counterpart  of  the 
Cumberland  plateau  of  the  east  with  the  coal  measure 
rocks  swept  away.  The  general  elevation  of  the  cor- 
responding strata  underlying  the  coal  measure  rocks  is 
but  a few  feet  more  than  that  of  Lawrence  and  Hick- 
man counties.  Almost  at  an  identical  level  on  each  side 
of  the  Middle  Tennessee  basin  occur  the  same  charac- 
teristic rocks.  The  vast  body  of  coal  which  may  have 
once  extended  from  Kentucky  to  Alabama  is  gone,  but 
deposited  in  its  underlying  strata,  from  the  slow  action 
of  ages,  now  remain  immense  bodies  of  iron  ore,  in 
quantity  and  quality  hardly  surpassed  by  any  like  area 
in  the  United  States.  In  the  injurious  elements  of 
phosphorus  and  sulphur  these  ores  frequently  go  down 


225 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

to  a mere  trace,  while  they  never  rise  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  be  in  the  slightest  degree  injurious  for  the  very 
best  grades  of  foundry  irons. 

The  location  of  this  ore  has  been  stated  to  be  an 
elevated  plateau-land,  yet  it  is  well  watered  with  many 
springs,  and  is  also  intersected  with  streams  which  flow 
west  from  the  Middle  Tennessee  basin,  being  cut  through 
on  the  north  by  the  Cumberland  river,  while  the  western 
edge  is  intersected  from  north  to  south,  the  entire  mid- 
dle of  the  State,  by  the  Tennessee  river.  All  these 
streams  cut  down  through  the  sub-carboniferous  strata 
into  the  lower  limestones,  thus  affording  ample  facility 
for  obtaining  flux  in  the  manufacture  of  iron.  The  two 
great  rivers  named  also  afford  cheap  transportation  to 
markets,  while  other  means  of  transportation  and  access 
to  this  region  is  afforded  by  the  Memphis  branch  of  the 
Louisville  & Nashville  Railroad  through  Montgomery 
and  Stewart  counties,  the  Nashville  & Northwestern 
through  Dickson,  Humphreys  and  Benton,  a narrow- 
gauge  south  from  Dickson  station  into  Hickman  county, 
and  the  railroad  from  Columbia  through  Lawrence  county 
to  Florence,  Alabama. 

This  ore  has  been  almost  entirely  used  for  the  manu- 
facture of  iron  with  charcoal,  and  there  are  now  six 
furnaces  operating  in  this  region.  All  use  charcoal  for 
fuel ; three  are  cold  blast  and  three  are  hot  blast.  Not- 
withstanding its  contiguity  to  reliable  and  cheap  transpor- 
tation, but  little  of  this  ore  has  ever  been  shipped  to 
market  in  other  States,  nor  to  any  coke  furnace  in  this 
State.  The  connection  by  the  Duck  River  Valley  Road 
to  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  Railroad,  al- 
ready completed,  gives  an  outlet  for  this  ore  directly  to 
the  coal,  and  it  will  then  undoubtedly  be  shipped  to  fur- 
naces on  the  line  of  that  railroad  or  in  Chattanooga. 

15 


226 


Proceedings  of  the 

Near  Brownsport,  in  the  county  of  Decatur,  occurs  a 
bed  of  limonite,  probably  extending  over  a very  con- 
siderable area,  which  is  not  referable  to  any  of  the  form- 
ations in  which  that  ore  has  elsewhere  been  found  in 
Tennessee.  The  ore  occurs  stratified  in  layers  and 
masses  just  beneath  the  black  shale  of  the  Hamilton 
period,  Devonian  age,  and  rests  immediately  on  the 
Helderberg  limestone.  Immediately  above  the  black 
shale  is  the  siliceous  group  of  the  sub-carboniferous. 

furnace  was  once  run  at  this  locality,  and  the  stack 
and  some  of  the  houses  are  still  in  good  order ; the 
machinery  is  excellent.  The  ore  at  that  point  is  in  large 
quantity,  and  it  appears  to  exist  in  the  same  geological 
position  at  about  the  same  elevation  over  a considerable 
section  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  furnace, 
though  thus  eligibly  located,  was  badly  managed,  and 
has  been  idle  for  many  years,  being  tied  up  in  the 
meshes  of  the  law.  The  nearness  of  this  site  and  ore 
to  the  cheap  transportation  afforded  by  the  Tennessee 
river  should  cause  it  to  be  utilized.  The  ore  undoubt- 
edly exists  in  great  quantity  over  a large  area  of  coun- 
try, up  and  down  the  river. 

Along  the  western  foot  of  the  Cumberland  mountains 
and  the  Middle  Tennessee  basin,  in  a formation  identi- 
cal with  that  where  the  ores  of  Stewart,  Montgomery 
and  Hickman  are  found,  exist  some  beds  of  limonite, 
the  extent  of  which  has  not  been  fully  determined. 
They  are  found  chiefly  in  the  counties  of  White,  War- 
ren, Putnam  and  Overton.  At  several  points  these 
beds  appear  to  be  of  valuable  extent,  but  no  exploration 
has  been  made  sufficient  to  test  its  quantity.  The 
McMinnville  branch  of  the  Nashville  & Chattanooga 
Railroad,  now  in  course  of  extension  to  Sparta,  will 
afford  means  of  transportation  and  access  to  this  region. 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 227 

Red  Fossit  Ore. — The  next  ore  to  be  considered,  and 
though  occupying  a less  area,  probably  not  less  exten- 
sive in  quantity,  belongs  to  the  true  hematite  series, 
and  is  known  to  mineralogy  and  the  manufacturer  as 
the  red  fossil  ore,  but  is  known  locally  in  Tennessee  as 
Dyestone.  It  is  almost  entirely  confined  to  East  Ten- 
nessee, but  almost  three-fourths  of  the  pig-iron  made  in 
the  State  since  1870  was  made  from  it. 

The  geological  position  of  this  ore  is  in  the  Clinton 
group  of  the  Niagara  period,  below  the  black  shale  of 
the  Dominion  formation.  In  this  State  there  are  usually 
but  thin  strata  intervening  between  the  two  ; and  while 
the  latter  is  frequently  found  outcropping,  it  does  not 
mean  that  the  ore  is  found  underneath  it.  This  is  the 
case  all  around  the  Middle  Tennessee  basin.  But  in 
East  Tennessee,  all  along  the  western  base  of  the  Cum- 
berland Mountains,  from  Chattanooga  to  Cumberland 
Gap,  the  two  strata  are  found  in  close  conjunction,  and 
where  one  exists  it  is  certain  that  the  other  is  to  be  found 
in  that  vicinity,  though  it  may  be  covered  with  drift. 
This  ore  is  one  of  the  most  persistent  strata  of  the  Ap- 
palachian geological  system.  It  is  found  in  New  York, 
bordering  Lake  Ontario,  curving  northward  on  the  west 
and  southward  on  the  east,  sinking  there  beneath  the 
Hamilton  shales  and  slates,  rising  again  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  continuing  thence  in  an  almost  unbroken  outcrop 
southwest  into  the  heart  of  the  State  of  Alabama.  The 
seams  of  ore  in  this  State,  however,  are  much  thicker 
than  in  Pennsylvania  ; and  besides  the  regular  continu- 
ous seam  at  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  Mountain,  there 
is  an  independent  seam  almost  as  continuous,  and  at 
places  much  thicker,  in  what  is  c.alled  White  Oak  Mount- 
ain, a high  ridge  entering  the  State  from  Georgia,  in  the 
county  of  James,  and  passing  northward  is  continuous  to 


228  Proceedings  of  the 

Virginia,  though  the  northern  end,  in  the  county  of  Han- 
cock, is  called  Powell’s  Mountain.  This  is  the  Montour 
Ridge  of  Pennsylvania.  This  ridge  in  Pennsylvania  is 
only  twenty-seven  miles  long,  and  from  it  in  1846,  Prof. 
Rogers  states,  that  twenty  furnaces,  making  60,000  tons 
of  iron  per  annum,  were  deriving  their  supply  of  ore, 
and  in  1881  there  were  still  nine  large  furnaces  deriving 
their  supply  in  whole  or  in  part  from  this  same  ridge. 
The  White  Oak  Mountain  has  a continuous  length  in 
East  Tennessee  of  over  100  miles. 

This  red  fossil  ore  is  also  found  in  several  detached 
ridges,  from  three  to  ten  miles  long,  which  lie  parallel 
with  the  White  Oak  Mountain,  at  intervals,  in  a general 
southwest  and  northeast  direction. 

This  ore  is  less  variable  in  quality  than  the  limonites, 
and  the  analysis  of  a specimen  from  one  point  in  a lead- 
ing range  will  usually  be  identical  with  that  from  another 
point  ten,  twenty  or  fifty  miles  distant.  Below  water 
level,  the  ore  on  the  White  Oak  Mountain,  and  at  a cer- 
tain depth  the  ore  in  the  seam  at  the  foot  of  the  Cum- 
berland Mountain,  becomes  poorer  in  iron  and  richer  in 
lime.  Hence,  for  the  present,  mining  is  stopped  when 
this  hard  and  poor  ore  is  reached  ; the  proper  course 
would  be  to  mix  it,  as  done  in  Pennsylvania,  with  the 
richer  soft  ore  from  near  the  surface. 

Two  other  bodies  of  this  ore  are  of  great  extent  in 
East  Tennessee,  but  detached  from  the  East  Tennessee 
Valley  proper.  These  are  in  Elk  Fork  Valley  and  Se- 
quatchie Valley.  The  former  is  about  twenty-five  miles 
long  and  extends  into  Kentucky ; the  latter  is  about 
sixty  miles  long  and  extends  into  Alabama.  Through- 
out the  whole  length  of  these  valleys  the  red  fossil  ore 
appears,  dipping  slightly  to  the  east.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  the  mountain,  at  its  eastern  base,  along  the  foot 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  229 

of  Walden’s  Ridge,  the  ore  dips  to  the  west,  hence,  if 
the  ore  is  continuous  for  the  eight  to  ten  miles  of  dis- 
tance under  the  intervening  carboniferous  strata,  the 
amount  of  iron  ore  thus  stored  away  for  future  use  is 
simply  enormous.  The  ore  on  the  east  side  of  the 
mountain  is  three  feet  thick,  and  in  the  valleys  much 
thicker.  Therefore,  even  if  containing  only  30  per  cent, 
of  iron,  the  amount  of  available  ore  the  seam  would 
yield,  to  capital  invested  in  scientific  mining,  will  equal 
if  not  surpass  that  of  any  known  deposit  of  ore  in  the 
world. 

At  present  the  mode  of  mining  this  ore  is  to  get  ore 
on  the  cheapest  plan  possible,  without  the  slightest  re- 
ference to  the  future.  In  the  seam  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  it  occurs  in  a series  of  knobs,  with  short,  nar- 
row valleys  between  them.  The  ore  is  robbed  from  the 
knobs  by  rough  tunnels  as  long  as  they  think  it  pays, 
and  then  that  knob  is  abandoned  and  another  attacked. 
No  mining  is  done  below  the  level  of  the  little  branches. 
In  White  Oak  Mountain  the  dirt  and  shale  is  stripped 
with  picks  and  shovels  off  the  seam  of  ore  until  the  wall 
of  shale  reaches  a height  or  thickness  of  six  or  eight 
feet;  the  stripped  ore  is  then  taken  out  and  the  rest 
abandoned.  In  so-called  worked-out  leases  near  Oolte- 
wah,  are  thousands  of  tons  of  ore  which,  by  intelligent 
mining,  can  now  be  gotten  out  as  cheaply  as  has  been 
any  which  had  a thinner  covering.  The  price  of  this 
ore  in  Chattanooga  ranges  from  $ 2.00  to  $2.50  per  ton. 

On  the  mountain  seam  are  now  located  three  furnaces, 
two  at  Rockwood  and  one  at  Oakdale.  One  furnace  at 
Chattanooga  derives  its  supply  from  the  White  Oak 
Mountain  near  Ooltewah,  and  South  Pittsburg  and 
Cowan  furnaces  get  their  ore  from  the  same  mountain. 

The  seams  of  this  ore  have  very  superior  facilities  for 


230  Proceedings  of  the 

transportation.  The  Tennessee  river  runs  parallel  be- 
tween the  White  Oak  mountain  seam  and  that  of  Shin 
Bone  ridge,  at  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  mountain. 
The  latter  has  also  the  Cincinnati  Southern  Railway  in 
a few  hundred  yards  of  it  for  nearly  seventy  miles.  It 
is  also  accessible  by  the  Knoxville  & Ohio  Road  at 
Coal  Creek  and  Careyville.  The  White  Oak  mountain 
ore  is  cut  through  by  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & 
Georgia  Railroad  near  Ooltewah,  and  also  by  its  Red 
Clay  extension,  and  by  the  Knoxville  & Ohio  branch  of 
that  road  from  Knoxville  to  Kentucky,  near  the  town  of 
Clinton.  The  Tennessee  river  also  cuts  it  at  Welker’s, 
in  Roane  county.  The  Tennessee  river  also  cuts 
through  the  Half  Moon  Island  bed  for  a distance  of  ten 
miles.  A system  of  cheap  narrow-gauge  roads  would 
bring  to  the  river  and  railroads  in  short  distances  a large 
amount  of  ore  now  too  far  distant  for  hauling  by  teams. 

The  red  fossil  ore  has  not  been  found  in  any  part  of 
the  Middle  Tennessee  region.  In  Overton  county  a 
hematite  ore  is  found,  locally  called  dyestone,  but  it  is 
not  the  same  as  the  East  Tennessee  dyestone,  nor  is  it 
known  to  exist  in  large  quantities.  In  the  county  of 
Wayne  are  three  knobs  which  contain  a large  amount 
of  hematite.  Its  geological  position  has  not  been  ex- 
actly determined.  The  location  is  near  Clifton,  on  the 
Tennessee  river,  and  the  ore  is  of  good  quality.  It 
was  once  used  in  a furnace  located  near  by,  and  some 
of  it  has  been  shipped  off  and  used  for  paint. 

The  third  most  important  ore,  as  respects  quantity,  in 
the  State  of  Tennessee  is  the  carbonate  of  iron  of  the 
Coal  Measures.  This  is  in  England  and  Europe  one  of 
the  chief  ores  from  which  iron  is  made.  It  is  used  to 
some  extent  in  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  but  as  yet  not  at 
all  in  Tennessee,  though  it  is  one  of  the  most  abundant 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  231 

and  easily  worked  ores.  There  are  points  in  the  Ten- 
nessee Coal-field  where  it  can  be  mined  very  cheaply. 
It  is  found  in  the  State  underlying  the  coal  seam  worked 
at  Coal  Creek  and  at  Careyville  ; at  the  latter  place  it 
is  specially  abundant.  There  are  a number  of  layers  of 
it  in  the  Tennessee  Coal-field. 

The  least  abundant,  but  most  valuable  iron  ores  of  the 
State,  are  the  ores  found  in  the  metamorphic  rocks, 
from  which  Bessemer  steel  pig  may  be  made.  These 
are  the  hematite  and  the  magnetic.  These  are  found 
at  intervals  in  the  strata  just  edging  on  the  Potsdam 
sandstone  and  in  the  hornblendic  gneiss  of  Carter  and 
Johnson  counties.  The  hematite  has  not  been  devel- 
oped to  any  special  extent,  hence  its  quantity  is  not 
known.  In  Sullivan  and  Carter  counties,  in  the  foot- 
hills of  the  Holston  Mountains,  is  found  hematite  ore  of 
very  compact  structure.  It  has  been  used  in  forges  and 
made  good  iron,  but  no  sufficient  exploration  has  ever 
been  made  to  test  its  quality,  though  small  pieces  of  it 
are  scattered  over  a large  area  of  country. 

The  magnetic  ore  exists  in  a limited  area,  but  is  in 
large  quantity  and  of  excellent  quality.  Little  beyond 
explorations  for  the  investment  of  capital,  and  a little 
digging  for  forges,  has  been  done  in  this  State ; but 
beyond  the  North  Carolina  line,  very  extensive  excava- 
tions have  been  made  for  the  owners  of  the  East  Ten- 
nessee & Western  North  Carolina  Railroad,  and  an 
immense  amount  of  ore  uncovered.  That  railroad  is 
now  completed  from  Johnson  City  to  those  mines  in 
North  Carolina,  and  must  also  eventually  be  the  means 
of  developing  the  ore  of  Carter  county.  In  the  eastern 
part  of  Johnson  county,  magnetic  ore  is  also  found,  but 
transportation  is  so  far  distant  that  there  is  no  likeli- 
hood of  its  development  for  many  years. 


232  Proceedings  of  the 

The  following  are  the  iron  furnaces  in  Tennessee 
using  coke  for  fuel : 

Oakdale  Iron  Company,  Jenks’  P.  O.,  Roane  county, 
Tenn.,  (one  stack),  Hon.  John  G.  Scott,  President, 
Jenks’  P.  O. 

Roane  Iron  Company,  Rockwood  P.  O.,  Roane  county, 
Tenn.  (two  stacks),  H.  S.  Chamberlain,  President,  Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn. 

Chattanooga  Iron  Company,  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 
(one  stack),  L.  S.  Colyar,  Manager,  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Tennessee  Coal,  Iron  & Railroad  Company,  South 
Pittsburg,  Marion  county,  Tenn.  (two  stacks),  J.  C. 
Warner,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Tennessee  Coal,  Iron  & Railroad  Company,  Cowan, 
Tenn.  (one  stack),  J.  C.  Warner,  President,  Nashville, 
Tenn. 

The  combined  product  of  these  furnaces  is  about  400 
tons  of  pig  iron  per  day.* 

The  furnaces  now  in  operation  in  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see using  charcoal  for  fuel,  are  : 

Napier  Furnace  Company,  chief  postoffice  Lawrence 
county,  Tenn.;  J.  E.  R.  Carpenter,  President,  Colum- 
bia, Tenn.,  makes  cold-blast  car-wheel  irons. 

Warner  Furnace,  Warner,  Hickman  county,  Tenn. ; 
J.  C.  Warner,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  makes  hot- 
blast  charcoal  iron. 

Cumberland  Furnace  Company,  Cumberland  Furnace, 
Dickson  county,  J.  P.  Drouillard,  President,  Nashville, 
Tenn.;  hot-blast  charcoal  iron. 

Cumberland  Iron  Works  Company,  Bear  Spring  Fur- 
nace, Stewart  county,  J.  P.  Drouillard,  President,  Nash- 


*To  the  above  may  be  added  the  Citico  furnace,  now  in  blast  at  Chattanooga* 
Tenn.  (one  stack),  the  output  of  which,  at  this  writing,  is  ninety  tons  per  day. 
July  1,  1884. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  233 

ville,  Tenn.,  makes  cold-blast  charcoal  iron  for  car- 
wheels. 

The  combined  product  of  these  furnaces  is  about 
ninety  tons  per  day. 

Clark  Furnace,  in  Stewart  county,  was  burned  last 
winter,  and  has  not  yet  been  repaired.  LaGrange  Fur- 
nace, owned  by  the  same  company  as  Clark,  was  rebuilt 
on  the  new  idea,  Corendolt  model,  two  years  ago,  but 
did  not  do  well,  and  is  not  now  in  blast. 

COPPER. 

The  part  of  the  State  of  Tennessee  which  has  pro- 
duced copper  ore  in  any  quantity  is  all  included  in  the 
county  of  Polk.  Though  small  in  area,  it  is  capable  of 
being  a great  source  of  wealth  to  the  State.  None  of 
the  mines  are  now  in  operation,  but  they  were  worked 
with  profit  for  many  years  by  Capt.  J.  E.  Raht,  and 
there  is  no  good  reason  why  they  should  not  again 
become  a source  of  profit  to  the  operator,  and  of  benefit 
to  the  people  of  that  region. 

These  mines  are  located  in  a trough-like  basin  of 
metamorphic  rocks,  which  is  found  in  the  extreme  south- 
eastern corner  of  the  State,  it  being  the  largest  area  of 
these  rocks  to  be  found  in  the  State.  The  veins  of  ore 
are  of  the  seggregated  character,  and  run  with  the  strata 
to  the  northeast  and  southwest,  the  bodies  of  ore  occur- 
ring usually  in  something  of  an  echelon  arrangement. 
Some  of  these  veins  have  been  explored  to  a depth  of 
over  200  feet  with  a result  showing  that  the  veins  are 
permanent.  The  ores  found  near  the  surface  are  red 
and  black  oxides,  but  at  greater  depths  the  ore  is  the 
yellow  sulphuret. 

This  body  of  ore  was  discovered  in  1843,  but  no  regu- 
lar systematic  mining  was  done  before  1850.  In  1855 


234  Proceedings  of  the 

there  were  fourteen  mines  in  operation,  and  over  $1,000,- 
ooo  worth  of  ore  was  shipped  North.  In  1858  a number 
of  the  companies  united  under  the  name  of  the  Union 
Consolidated  Copper  Company.  The  war  coming  on 
soon  after,  no  great  results  then  occurred  from  the  con- 
solidation, but  in  1866  operations  were  again  commenced, 
and  that  company  shipped  600,000  pounds  of  ingot  cop- 
per, and  the  other  companies  shipped  400,000  pounds. 
In  1878  the  Consolidated  Company  entered  into  a law- 
suit with  Captain  Raht,  which  caused  a stoppage  of 
operations,  and  since  that  time  nothing  has  been  done 
except  to  keep  the  water  pumped  out  of  the  East  Ten- 
nessee Mine,  and  to  protect  the  machinery  from  rust. 
The  title  to  the  Consolidated  Company  property  is  now 
clear,  and  there  is  no  apparent  reason  why  the  mines 
should  not  be  worked. 

There  are  other  mines  of  equal  value  to  any  belonging 
to  the  Consolidated  Company,  but  that  company  owns 
the  smelting  works,  and  until  they  commence  operations, 
the  other  mines  cannot  be  worked  with  profit,  as  the 
cost  of  hauling  to  the  railroad  is  so  great  that  it  will  not 
pay  to  ship  the  ores.  There  are  also  properties  in  this 
region  entirely  undeveloped. 

If  the  railroad  now  in  process  of  construction  from 
Asheville,  N.  C.,  to  Ducktown,  is  continued  on  to  Cleve- 
land, Tenn.,  then  coke  may  be  obtained  at  reasonable 
cost,  and  hence  the  mines  can  be  worked,  and  ores 
smelted,  with  fair  certainty  of  good  profit. 

Copper  ore  has  also  been  found  in  Monroe  county, 
but  no  extensive  development  made. 

GOLD. 

Gold  has  been  found  in  only  one  section  of  Tennes- 
see, and  that  is  within  the  bald  range  of  mountains  on 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  235 

Wolf  creek,  in  Cocke  county,  and  on  Coco  creek,  in 
Monroe  county.  The  discovery  of  gold  on  Wolf  creek 
is  recent,  but  placer  washings  have  been  worked  on 
Coco  creek  for  many  years,  and  are  still  continued  in  a 
small  way.  Many  hundreds  of  dollars  are  gotten  from 
there  every  year,  of  which  no  record  is  kept.  Work 
was  done  here  as  early  as  1831,  and  up  to  i860,  over 
$50,000  had  been  received  at  the  U.  S.  Mint,  known  to 
have  come  from  there.  It  is  probable  that  fully  twice 
that  sum  was  the  actual  amount  obtained. 

So  far,  washing  the  gravel  and  dirt  in  and  adjacent 
to  the  creeks  has  been  the  source  of  obtaining  the  gold, 
but  active  search  is  now  being  made  for  quartz  veins, 
with  prospects  of  success.  There  is,  without  doubt, 
much  room  for  careful  exploration  in  this  region,  and 
the  systematic  worker  will  find  himself  well  repaid. 
The  same  characteristic  formation  exists  in  Unicoi, 
Greene,  Carter  and  Johnson  counties,  and  gold  may 
also  be  found  there.  I11  view  of  the  recent  great  dis- 
coveries in  Virginia  and  Georgia,  at  points  where  gold 
was  not  supposed  to  exist,  it  may  not  be  unreasonable 
to  hope  for  valuable  developments  in  Tennessee. 

ZINC. 

Within  a few  years  past,  the  ores  of  this  metal  have 
become  of  some  importance.  In  1872,  works  for  the 
manufacture  of  zinc  oxide  were  erected  at  Mossy  Creek, 
and  mines  opened  near  that  place.  After  a few  years  of 
sickly  existence,  the  company  failed,  chiefly  from  the  fact 
that  it  was  started  without  any  actual  paid-in  capital, 
and  also  neither  the  ores  or  the  location  were  adapted 
to  making  oxide.  If  the  manufacture  of  metal  zinc  had 
been  the  object,  at  least  a temporary  success  might  have 
been  attained.  In  1876,  the  Passaic  Fire  Company  pur- 


236  Proceedings  of  the 

chased  mines  on  Powell’s  River  in  Union  county,  and 
commenced  operations  there  on  an  extensive  scale. 
They  continued  active  operations  to  sometime  in  the 
spring  of  1882.  The  mines  are  now  abandoned  on  ac- 
count of  the  large  quantity  of  sulphurets  which  have 
come  in — that  company  not  using  that  character  of  zinc 
ore.  During  the  time  they  continued  operation,  over 
$ 100,000  worth  of  carbonate  of  zinc  was  shipped  from 
this  mine.  In  1879,  Mr.  Richberg,  of  Chicago,  pur- 
chased some  property  on  Straight  creek,  near  Clinch 
river,  in  the  county  of  Claiborne,  and  commenced  min- 
ing for  zinc  ore ; soon  after  he  commenced  the  erection 
of  works  for  the  manufacture  of  metalic  zinc  at  Clinton, 
where  the  Knoxville  & Ohio  Railroad  crosses  Clinch 
river,  and  completed  them  in  1881.  Ore  is  used  from 
the  mines  on  Straight  creek,  being  floated  down  the  river 
and  also  from  Mossy  Creek.  The  works  are  still  run- 
ning and  have  a capacity  for  making  3,000  pounds  of 
metal  zinc  each  24  hours. 

The  lead  of  zinc  ore  whieh  passes  by  Mossy  creek  is 
continous  for  about  65  miles  in  a northeast  and  south- 
west line,  and  in  the  sum  total  contains  a large  quantity 
of  ore,  though  not  of  a quality  very  rich  in  metal.  Its 
proximity  to  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia 
railroad,  gives  it  a special  importance,  the  outcropping 
of  the  ore  being  from  only  a few  hundred  yards  to  six 
miles  from  the  line  of  the  road  for  a distance  of  fifty 
miles.  The  ore  of  this  lead  has  in  it  only  a mere  trace 
of  lead. 

Another  lead  of  ore  may  be  called  the  Powell’s  river 
lead.  Its  chief  development  is  in  the  upper  part  of 
Union  and  lower  part  of  Claiborne  counties.  This  lead 
may  be  found  to  contain  valuable  ore  at  other  points 
than  those  now  worked,  as  in  a northeast  line  in  a sim- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  237 

ilar  formation  in  Virginia  good  zinc  ore  has  been  dis- 
covered. 

Col.  Robert  Deery  discovered  a valuable  lead  of  ore 
on  the  property  of  Mrs.  Churchwell  near  Union  Depot, 
Sullivan  county,  in  1883,  which  promises  great  results. 

LEAD. 

Lead  ore  is  found  at  many  places  in  the  State  of 
Tennessee,  but  is  worked  regulary  at  only  one.  Spora- 
dic efforts  at  mining  have  been  at  one  time  or  another 
attempted,  but  all  for  some  reason  were  suspended  with- 
out reaching  any  definite  result.  The  question  whether 
there  is  any  lead  ore  of  value  in  the  State  is  as  uncer- 
tain as  ever. 

In  Henry  county  specimens  have  been  found,  but  un- 
doubtedly came  from  the  North  in  the  great  glacial  drift. 
In  Clay  county  good  specimens  have  been  obtained  from 
the  sub-carboniferous  limestone,  and  there  are  indica- 
tions of  a good  vein.  In  East  Tennessee  lead  is  found 
in  all  the  zinc  mines  of  the  Powell’s  river  region,  but 
, on>y  in  a very  small  quantity,  as  stated,  in  the  Mossy 
creek  ores.  Lead  ore  is  found  in  the  counties  of  Trous- 
dale, Smith,  Bradley,  McMinn,  Monroe,  Loudon,  Roane, 
Jefferson,  Grainger,  Anderson,  Campbell,  Union,  Clai- 
borne, Greene,  Washington,  Johnson  and  Carter.  In 
Bradley,  Monroe,  Loudon  and  Roane  it  is  found  asso- 
ciated with  Baryta,  and  has  been  worked  a little  in  each 
county  in  past  years,  and  at  some  of  the  old  diggings 
there  are  indications  that  with  proper  work  a paying 
quantity  of  ore  might  be  obtained.  The  ore  does  no&t 
exist  in  a regular  vein,  but  rather  in  a series  of  lenticu- 
lar deposits,  occuring  at  regluar  intervals  in  a regular 
line  along  with  the  strata.  These  deposits,  however, 
are  continuous  from  the  Georgia  line  through  the  coun- 


238  Proceedings  of  the 

ties  of  Bradley,  McMinn,  Monroe,  Loudon,  Jefferson, 
Blount  and  Greene.  The  lead  ore  in  Roane  is  found  in 
a similar  portion,  but  is  to  be  found  out  of  the  general 
line  of  the  deposits.  In  Carter  county  lead  ore  has  been 
found  in  a location  which  gives  the  appearance  of  being 
a true  vein  running  across  the  strata  in  an  anticlinal,  as 
a fault  of  the  Potsdam  sandstone.  It  is  said  also  to  ap- 
pear in  Johnson  county.  This  ore  is  the  only  lead  ore  in 
Tennessee  containing  any  appreciable  amount  of  silver 
The  gangue  is  a siliceous  breccia,  and  the  ore  is  largely 
intermingled  with  supplementing  iron.  In  the  southwest 
corner  of  Claiborne  county,  near  the  line  of  Union 
county,  is  another  locality  where  lead  is  found  appear- 
ing to  be  a true  vein.  The  gangue  here  is  a siliceous 
breccia,  but  the  lead  ore  is  mixed  with  a sulphuret  of 
zinc  instead  of  sulphuret  of  iron,  as  in  Carter  county. 
It  is  a notable  point  that  both  these  veins  have  the  same 
direction  north,  770  to  8o°  east.  This  locality,  in  Clai- 
borne county,  is  a very  remarkable  one,  and  the  veins 
may  be  traced  across  the  county  for  many  miles — the 
outcrop  plainly  showing  in  the  bottom  of  Powell’s  river. 
This  vain  has  been  opened  to  a depth  of  thirty  feet,  and 
it  is  stated  that  the  sulphuret  of  zinc  grew  less  with  the 
depth,  and  at  the  point  where  the  shaft  was  stopped  for 
want  of  proper  pumping  apparatus,  the  ore  had  concen- 
trated into  three  or  four  veins  of  very  pure  galena  tra- 
versing gangue — one  of  these  said  to  be  [solidly  six 
inches  thick.  For  many  years  no  work  has  been  done  at 
this  place.  Many  years  ago  considerable  work  was  done 
for  lead  in  Bompas’s  Cove,  and  a small  stamp  mill  erect- 
ed. It  is  not  known  for  what  cause  it  was  abandoned. 

MANGANESE. 

At  various  points  in  the  Chilhowee  Mountain  and  its 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  239 

attendant  ranges  are  extensive  beds  of  the  oxide  of 
manganese  of  the  best  quality.  Except  in  Johnson 
county  none  of  these  have  ever  been  worked  for  ship- 
ment, several  hundred  tons  having  been  mined  from  a 
locality  in  Johnson  county.  Large  quanntities  have  also 
been  found  in  Carter  county,  and  in  Lawrence  and 
Perry  counties. 

MARBLE. 


The  marble  industry  of  Tennessee  is  the  result  of 
the  increase  of  wealth  in  our  nation,  and  a consequent 
indulgence  in  the  ornamental  and  beautiful,  combined 
with  the  useful,  rather  than  in  the  useful  alone.  The 
pure  white  marble,  which  for  centuries  has  ornamented 
the  houses  of  the  rich  and  given  a ghastly  look  to  the 
home  of  the  dead,  does  not  exist  in  Tennessee.  The 
marbles  of  the  State  have  been  warmed  into  attractive- 
ness and  brilliancy  by  commingling  one  or  more  of  the 
brighter  colors  with  the  pearly  tints  of  the  sea  shell. 
It  was  this  rare  beauty  and  brilliancy  which  drew  the 
attention  of  an  artist  architect  to  the  marble  of  Hawkins 
county,  ^nd  caused  it  to  be  brought  to  the  notice  of  the 
world  in  the  Capitol  at  Washington.  Lrom  this  nucleus 
has  originated  a business  spreading  all  over  East  Ten- 
nessee, employing  a large  number  of  workmen,  adding 
greatly  to  the  freight  lists  of  our  railroads  and  giving 
comfortable  returns  to  all  capital  invested. 

The  development  of  this  industry  is  one  of  the  in- 
stances of  how  much  may  be  done  by  individual  enter- 
prise in  giving  publicity  and  calling  attention  to  a pro- 
duct, however  insignificant  it  may  appear.  Orville  Rice 
conceived  the  idea,  and  he  and  five  friends  had  prepared 
and  sent  to  the  Washington  Monument  a block  of  the 
then  unknown  Hawkins  county  marble.  It  attracted 


240  Proceedings  of  the 

the  eye  and  pleased  the  taste  of  the  architect  of  the 
new  Capitol ; tests  proved  it  to  be  of  good  quality,  a 
quarry  was  purchased,  and  large  quantities  of  it  were 
used  in  that  building.  And  the  same  quarry  is  yet 
worked,  and  furnishes  an  average  of  10,000  cubic  feet 
annually. 

Nearly  all  the  Tennessee  marble  belongs  to  th  va- 
riegated class  ; some  has  a solid  drab  or  dove  color, 
and  in  other  localities  it  is  gray  or  pinkish  gray.  Of 
class  it  has  no  rival  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains, 
except  in  a limited  area  in  the  State  of  Vermont.  The 
sienna  and  variegated  marbles  of  Italy  have  been  sup- 
planted by  the  more  brilliant  stone  from  the  land  whose 
people  delight  to  call  it  the  Switzerland  of  America. 

The  geological  position  of  this  marble  is  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  Lower  Silurean,  one  of  the  strata  of  the 
group  of  Trenton  limestones,  being  next  to  the  lowest 
member  of  that  series.  In  the  county  of  Henry  and 
also  in  Benton,  are  found  local  beds  of  marble  which 
are  in  the  Niagara  formation,  but  they,  while  of  truly 
handsome  appearance,  do  not  have  the  brilliancy  of  the 
East  Tennessee  marbles.  In  Lincoln  county  a^ variety 
of  shell  marble  is  found  in  the  Trenton  limestones, 
which  very  much  resembles  the  true  variegated  species, 
and  may  afford  handsome  blocks  of  commercial  size, 
but  by  far  the  greatest  body  of  marble  is  found  in  East 
Tennesse,  and  from  that  section  alone  shipments  from 
the  State  have  been  made. 

The  original  opening  of  the  Tennessee  marble  was 
in  Hawkins  county,  and  until  within  a few  years  there 
was  its  greatest  development.  Now  the  largest  business 
is  done  in  Knox  county,  and  there  are  quarries  in  Haw- 
kins, Knox,  Hamblen,  Jefferson,  Loudon,  Monroe  and 
Bradley.  For  the  year  ending  June  30th,  1871,  the 


241 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

amount  of  marble  shipped  over  the  East  Tennessee, 
Virginia  & Georgia  Railroad  was  1,262,422  pounds, 
and  of  this  Hawkins  county  furnished  1,199,943  pounds, 
For  the  year  ending  June  30th,  1881,  the  amount 
shipped  over  the  same  railroad  was  14,312,469  pounds, 
of  which  only  3,651,000  pounds  was  from  Hawkins 
county,  and  more  than  10,000,000  pounds  from  Knox 
county.  The  total  may  be  roughiy  estimated  at  80,000 
cubic  feet,  which,  at  an  everage  price  of  three  dollars 
per  cubic  foot,  would  be  the  sum  of  $240,000,  now 
being  brought  into  East  Tennessee  for  an  article  lately 
valuelss,  and  the  demand  for  which  is  steadily  increasing. 

The  marble  beds  of  Hawkins  county  are  in  a narrow 
ridge  running  northeast  and  southwest  with  the  general 
line  of  all  East  Tennessee  strata,  the  outcropping  being 
usually  on  the  western  side  of  the  ridge.  This  ridge 
commences  about  six  miles  north  of  Rogersville  and 
ends  abruptly  about  eight  miles  southeast  of  that  place, 
being  apparently  isolated,  though  careful  examination 
proves  that  its  strata  connects  with  Clinch  mountain  on 
the  north,  and  continues  in  the  strata  to  the  south, 
though  losing  for  some  distance  its  elevated  ridge-like 
position  above  the  general  face  of  the  country.  In  this 
ridge  are  nine  quarries,  of  which  seven  are  vigorously 
worked.  Four  of  them  ship  their  marble  from  Rogers- 
ville, and  three  haul  by  wagon  to  Whitesburg  and  ship 
from  that  point.  The  railroad  from  Rogersville  con- 
nects with  the  main  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Geor- 
gia Railroad. 

The  amount  of  marble  in  Hawkins  county  is  very 
great,  and  therein  are  found  variegated  marbles  of  more 
brilliancy  than  in  any  other  section.  The  business  has 
not  increased  in  the  same  proportion  as  in  Knox  county 
because  of  the  poor  facilities  for  transportation.  If  the 

16 


242 


' Proceedings  of  the 

railroad  to  Rogersville  were  extended  to  the  marble 
valley,  the  amount  of  handsome  variegated  marble 
shipped  would  be  largely  increased,  the  cost  much 
decreased,  and  grades  of  marble  not  now  quarried 
would  come  into  use. 

The  quarries  now  in  operation  are  : Prince  & Co., 
Chestnut  & Chestnut,  John  Harnn  & Co.,  Chestnut  & 
Fulkerson,  who  ship  from  Rogersville,  and  Capt.  James 
White,  the  old  Dougherty  quarry,  Joseph  Stamps,  the 
Baltimore  Marble  Company,  who  haul  to  Whitesburg, 
on  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia  Railroad. 

For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1881,  there  was  shipped 
from  such  of  these  quarries  as  were  operating  then, 
3,551,138  pounds  of  marble,  or  about  20,000  cubic  feet. 
All  of  this  was  of  the  finest  grade  of  variegated  marble 
for  ornamental  purposes  only,  and  can  certainly  be  esti- 
mated as  worth  $4.00  per  cubic  foot  on  the  cars.  Some 
sold  as  high  as  $7. 00,  thus  giving  a gross  product  of 
$80,000,  while  the  actual  capital  invested  is  very  small. 
Employment  is  given  to  about  100  men. 

The  business  is  not  pushed  by  any  one  of  the  quarries 
to  the  extent  it  might  be  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of 
transportation  heretofore  alluded  to.  Machinery  is  little 
used.  In  the  Hassen  quarry  is  a channeler  and  a steam 
drill.  Mr.  Stamps  has  two  steam  drills. 

The  chief  markets  of  this  marble  are  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore,  New  York,  Boston  and  other  cities.  It  is 
seldom  used  for  outside  work,  but  from  selected  blocks 
very  handsome  and  durable  doorsteps  and  banisters 
have  been  made,  which  stood  the  wear  of  weather  and 
time  equally  with  any  stone.  An  instance  of  this  is  seen 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hasson,  in  Rogersville. 

In  Hamblen  county  Mr.  M.  Carriger,  of  Morristown,  pro- 
duces some  marbles  of  good  quality,  chiefly  for  local  use. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  243 

Jefferson  county  contains  a large  quantity  of  marble, 
from  the  beds  of  which  beautiful  specimens  have  been 
obtained,  but  no  extensive  quarrying  has  yet  been  done. 

The  largest  bu-siness  now  carried  on  in  quarrying  and 
shipping  marble  is  in  Knox  county.  The  marble  of 
Knox  is  more  varied  in  its  quality  and  the  uses  to  which 
it  is  adapted  than  that  of  Hawkins  county,  and  the  facili- 
ties of  transportation  are  much  better.  The  quality 
varies  from  the  plain  gray-colored  building  stone  to  the 
most  beautiful  pink  and  variegated  ornamental  marble. 
The  gray,  or  whitish  drab  with  pink  tinge,  has  no  supe- 
rior as  a building  stone.  It  has  been  used  in  the  United 
States  Custom  House  at  Knoxville,  at  Memphis,  and 
the  State  House  at  Albany,  New  York,  and  in  many 
other  private  and  public  buildings  in  other  cities.  For 
durability  and  resistance  to  moisture  it  has  no  superior 
in  the  world.  An  analysis  gives  its  contents  of  carbon- 
ate of  lime  at  98.436,  and  tests  show  its  capacity  to  bear 
12,000  pounds  pressure  to  the  square  inch.  The  first 
quarry  of  this  extensively  opened,  was  by  the  United 
States  Government,  and  is  located  at  the  junction  of  the 
French  Broad  and  Tennessee  rivers,  and  is  now  exten- 
sively operated  by  the  Knoxville  Marble  Company,  of 
which  General  Patrick,  of  St.  Louis,  is  President,  and 
Geo.  W.  Ross,  of  Knoxville,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
This  marble  has  been  sent  to  all  parts  of  this  country, 
from  San  Francisco  to  New  York  city.  The  interior  of 
the  Governor’s  room  in  the  new  capitol  at  Albany  is 
built  of  it,  trimmed  with  Mexican  onyx.  When  polished 
it  has  a rich  mottled  pink  color,  but  bush  hammered  and 
rough  for  building  purposes,  has  the  appearance  of  being 
a white  marble. 

There  are  three  marble  leads  in  Knox  county  now 
worked ; two,  however,  are  undoubtedly  merely  the 


244 


Proceedings  of  the 

north  and  south  sides  of  a synclinal  trough,  hence 
really  the  same  beds.  These  two  are  south  of  the 
river.  The  third  is  north  of  the  city,  and  seems  to  have 
only  one  outcrop,  like  the  marble  of  Hawkins  county. 
Near  Concord  extensive  quarries  have  been  opened, 
which  appear  to  be  in  the  northern  outcrop  of  the  cyn- 
clinal  basin  heretofore  alluded  to. 

The  total  capital  invested  in  the  marble  business  in 
Knox  county  is  about  $250,000,  and  fully  300  men  are 
employed.  The  two  largest  quarries  are  the  Knoxville 
Marble  Company  and  Morgan  & Williams.  These  are 
the  only  ones  using  machinery.  The  former  has  five 
steam  drills,  seven  steam  derricks,  and  runs  a sawing 
mill  with  two  gangs  of  saws.  Morgan  & Williams  have 
three  steam  channeling  machines  and  mill  with  one  gang 
of  saws,  but  use  only  the  horse  derricks.  All  the  con- 
cerns use  the  ordinary  derricks.  In  Knoxville,  Beach  & 
Co.  have  a mill  for  sawing  and  machinery  for  polishing 
* marble. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  quarries  in  Knox  county: 
Knoxville  Marble  Company,  Morgan  & Williams,  John 
M.  Ross,  Craig  & McMullen,  C.  P.  Thomas  & Co.,  R.  H. 
Armstrong  & Co.,  H.  H.  Brown  & Co.,  Harvey  & Smith, 
Franklin  Marble  Company,  Beach  & Co.,  C.  B.  Ross  & 
Co.,  Crescent  Marble  Company,  Red  Triangle  Company. 

The  demand  for  marble  is  constantly  increasing,  and 
there  is  still  room  for  capital  invested  in  quarries  located 
near  to  transportation. 

In  Loudon  county  are  beds  of  good  marble,  but  none 
of  them  are  now  worked. 

In  Monroe,  Reynolds,  Huling  & Co.  for  some  time 
worked  a bed  on  Tellico  river,  but  it  is  now  abandoned. 

In  McMinn  county,  near  Athens,  marble  beds  of  good 
quality  exist,  but  have  not  been  worked  for  several  years. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  245 

In  Bradley  county,  on  the  Hiawassee  river,  above 
Charleston,  exist  extensive  beds,  of  excellent  marble, 
owned  by  Capt.  Jno.  S.  Crary,  at  which  machinery  has 
lately  been  erected  and  preparations  made  for  work  on  a 
large  scale.  South  of  Cleveland,  near  the  Georgia  line, 
is  the  quarry  of  Patrick  & Smith,  from  which  a beauti- 
ful grade  of  pink  marble  is  obtained.  They  have  two 
steam  drills. 

The  marble  in  Henry  and  Benton  counties,  West 
Tennessee,  has  been  mentioned.  It  does  not  have  the 
brilliancy  of  the  East  Tennessee  marbles,  but  is  never- 
theless handsome  and  interesting,  from  the  number  of 
crinoid  stems  it  contains.  In  this  respect  differing  from 
the  Lower  Silurian  marbles,  where  a crinoid  is  only 
occasional.  Its  location  in  Benton  is  on  Birdsinu  creek, 
in  Henry  on  Big  Sandy  river,  both  places  being  con- 
venient to  the  Tennessee  river,  and  the  latter  very  easy 
of  access  to  the  Memphis  branch  of  the  Louisville  & 
Nashville  Railroad.  Considerable  stone  from  the  quarry 
on  Big  Sandy,  near  Springville,  has  been  taken  out  and 
used  for  foundations,  caps,  steps  and  for  monuments. 
As  seen  in  Paris,  it  seems  to  have  good  qualities  for 
resisting  wear  from  exposure  to  the  weather. 

Marble  of  good  quality  and  admirably  adapted  to 
ornamental  work,  has  been  discovered  in  Lincoln  and 
Maury  counties,  Middle  Tennessee. 

BUILDING  STONES,  ROOFING  SLATES,  CLAYS,  AND 
GLASS  SAND. 

Tennessee  is  well  supplied  with  building  stones.  In 
the  extreme  east  near  the  North  Carolina  line,  a variety 
of  granite  is  to  be  found  ; there  are  also  marbles  of  every 
variety  of  color  and  unsurpassed  in  quality.  The  Cum- 
berland Mountains  afford  an  abundance  of  light  colored 


*246  Proceedings  of  the 

sand-stones,  and  the  Niagara  ridges  an  excellent  brown 
sandstone,  Just  below  the  mountain  limestone  is  an 
oolitic  limestone  of  very  excellent  quality.  This  stone 
is  found  at  various  points  on  the  Cincinnatti  Southern 
Railway,  near  the  terminal,  on  the  Nashville,  Chatta- 
nooga & St.  Louis,  in  Giles  county,  and  on  the  Nash- 
ville & Decatur  Railroad.  It  is  very  white,  works  easily 
and  stands  exposure  to  the  weather  very  well.  It  is  geo- 
logically the  same  as  the  oolitic  limestone  of  Bowling 
Green,  Kentucky,  but,  unlike  that  stone,  does  not  con- 
tain any  petroleum,  and  hence  does  not  turn  dark  on 
exposure  as  a great  deal  of  that  from  Bowling  Green 
does. 

Everywhere  throughout  the  State  except  in  the  ex- 
treme of  the  western  division,  the  various  limestones  are 
accessible  for  foundations  and  the  coarser  classes  of  build- 
ings. In  the  western  division  in  some  sections  an  iron 
sandstone  is  found  which  is  extensively  used  for  founda- 
tions and  chimneys.  The  limestone  marble  of  Henry 
county  is  a valuable  building  stone,  and  from  its  location 
could  be  easily  transported  to  sections  where  no  stone 
exists.  Large  quantities  of  stone  are  shipped  from 
Clarksville  to  the  towns  of  the  western  division.  In  the 
middLe  basin  the  prevalence  of  the  easily  worked  Tren- 
ton and  Nashville  limestones  makes  building  stone  both 
abundant  and  cheap,  and  with  care  in  selection,  much  of 
excellent  quality  and  uniformity  of  color  can  be  obtained. 
The  Capitol  at  Nashville  is  built  of  this  stone,  but,  un- 
fortunately, has  in  it  many  blocks  of  inferior  quality. 
On  the  line  of  the  Northwestern  Railroad,  at  White 
Bluff  and  other  points,  a cream  colored  sandstone  is 
found,  which  is  soft  and  easily  dressed  when  just  taken 
out  of  the  ground,  but  rapidly  becomes  hard  on  ex- 
posure, and  is  a very  durable  stone. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  247 

The  gray  and  pinkish  gray  marble  of  Knoxville  and 
that  vicinity  has  no  superior  as  a building  stone.  The 
Custom  Houses  at  Knoxville  and  Memphis  are  built  of 
it,  and  much  of  it  has  been  used  in  other  public  build- 
ings. It  has  greater  specific  gravity  than  the  best  gran- 
ites, and  as  proven  by  tests  published  in  the  New  York 
Underwriter,  it  is  a better  stone  for  resisting  the  com- 
bined action  of  fire  and  water  than  any  granite  or  sand- 
stone. 

The  brown  stone  of  the  Niagara  ridges,  Clinton  forma- 
tion, has  not  been  much  used  as  a building  stone,  but 
where  so  used  has  proven  very  good.  It  is  abundant 
in  East  Tennessee,  and  is  convenient  to  transportation, 
both  by  rail  and  water. 

Roofing  slate  is  found  in  several  counties  along  the 
eastern  border  of  the  State,  but  has  not  yet  been  worked 
for  shipment.  The  quality  is  good,  and  the  various 
colors  are  also  to  be  found.  As  yet  transportation  for 
it  is  uncertain,  but  if  that  existing  in  the  Wolf  creek 
country  should  prove  to  be  of  good  quality,  the  North 
Carolina  branch  of  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & 
Georgia  Railroad  will  now  furnish  a reliable  route  to 
the  North,  East  and  West. 

No  first-class  fire  clay  has  yet  been  worked  in  the 
State.  Many  trials  have  been  made  of  clays  convenient 
to  transportation,  but  none  of  the  best  quality.  A good 
article  exists  in  Stewart  county,  but  whether  of  sufficient 
quantity  to  be  of  value  beyond  local  use  has  not  been 
ascertained. 

Potter’s  clay  is  abundant,  and  the  best  of  ware  can  be 
made  from  that  found  in  Carroll,  Henry  and  Madison 
counties.  These  have  all  been  opened  to  sufficient 
extent  to  show  that  they  exist  in  large  quantity  and 
have  all  been  tested  as  to  quality.  The  beds  are  located 


248 


Proceedings  of  the 

near  to  transportation  on  great  trunk  lines,  hence  are 
available  for  shipment  abroad,  or  afford  facilities  for 
transporting  their  ware  if  manufactured  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  beds. 

Ochre  of  a very  pure  quality  is  to  be  found  within  two 
miles  of  Ripley,  Lauderdale  county. 

Good  glass  sand  is  found  at  several  points  in  the 
State,  especially  on  the  line  of  the  Tennessee  Coal,  Iron 
& Railroad  Company,  near  Sewanee,  and  in  that  part 
west  of  the  Tennessee  river,  but  so  far  none  has  been 
shipped.  A deposit  near  Knoxville  was  once  used  at 
that  place  in  making  glass.  Good  building  sand  is 
abundant. 

Lime  burning  is  carried  on  at  various  points  in  the 
State,  and  that  article  is  furnished  of  as  good  quality  and 
at  as  low  average  price  as  in  any  section  of  the  Union. 

Lithographic  stone  has  been  found  in  McMinn,  Jeffer- 
son, Clay  and  Overton  counties.  That  in  McMinn  was 
worked  awhile  by  some  parties  from  Cincinnati ; now 
the  only  quarry  worked  is  in  Clay  county,  which  is 
operated  by  Mr.  N.  O.  Geoghegar,  of  Louisville,  Ky. 
It  is  said  to  be  of  Very  excellent  quality,  and  took  the 
first  premium  at  the  Atlanta  Exposition  in  1881. 

Hydraulic  limestone  is  found  at  various  points  in  the 
State,  and  has  been  burned  and  ground  for  cement. 
Probably  the  most  available  place  for  this  manufacture 
is  near  Clifton,  Wayne  county,  immediately  on  the  Ten- 
nessee river.  A manufactory  was  established  here  just 
before  the  war,  and  the  cement  made  is  said  to  have 
been  of  the  best  quality.  The  locality  is  certainly  con- 
venient to  cheap  transportation. 

Sulphate  of  baryta,  or  “barytes,”  as  it  is  commonly 
called,  is  very  abundant  in  Tennessee.  It  can  be  found 
throughout  the  length  of  Chilhowee  Mountain,  and  at 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  249 

various  points  in  the  dolomite  ridges  of  the  East  Ten- 
nessee valley.  It  is  associated  with  lead  ore  in  Roane, 
Bradley  and  Loudon  counties.  It  has  been  mined  at 
Whetwell,  on  the  North  Carolina  branch  of  the  East 
Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia  Railroad,  and  near 
Greeneville,  on  the  main  line,,  and  a considerable  quan- 
tity shipped  therefrom,  but  the  work  is  now  suspended. 
It  has  no  legitimate  use  in  the  arts  or  manufactures,  but 
is  used  entirely  as  an  adulterant  of  various  white  sub- 
stances. 

PETROLEUM. 

Considerable  search  has  been  made  in  Tennessee  for 
petroleum  ; at  some  points  with  success,  at  others  the 
result  was  utter  failure.  All  along  the  western  foot  of 
the  Cumberland  Table-lands  and  circling  the  Middle 
Tennessee  Basin  on  all  sides,  is  a belt  of  country,  the 
geological  basin  of  which  is  such  as  to  warrant  that 
there  petroleum  may  be  found.  At  various  localities  in 
this  belt  petroleum  oozes  through  cracks  in  the  strata, 
but  these  are  by  no  means  reliable  indications  of  where 
a well  should  be  bored,  as  the  petroleum  may  have  come 
up  between  layers  of  rock  from  a reservoir  far  distant. 
Wells  were  many  years  ago  sunk  in  Overton  and  Fen- 
tress counties,  and  large  quantities  of  oil  obtained  ; but 
they  have  long  since  been  abandoned  for  want  of  proper 
transportation.  More  than  10,000  barrels  of  oil  were 
obtained  from  these  wells.  Several  wells  were  bored  in 
Dickson  county,  and  about  500  barrels  of  oil  obtained. 
From  the  record  of  the  strata  through  which  the  boring 
was  made,  it  appears  that  a good  quantity  of  oil  might 
be  obtained  in  that  region. 

TIMBER. 

Few  States  of  the  Union  have  a larger  proportionate 


250  Proceedings  of  the 

area  of  valuable  timber  lands  than  Tennessee.  Of  her 
26,000,000  of  acres  of  territory,  only  about  9,000,000 
are  in  cultivation,  leaving  17,000,000  acres,  nearly  all  of 
which  is  more  or  less  densely  covered  with  valuable  tim- 
ber. If  we  deduct  1,000,000  acres  for  unproductive  por- 
tions, and  I am  satisfied  that  this  is  more  than  the  just 
proportion,  we  will  still  have  16,000,000  of  acres  of  tim- 
ber land,  much  of  which  has  been  but  slightly,  if  at  all, 
disturbed  by  the  woodman’s  ax.  If,  in  connection  with 
this  vast  area,  we  consider  the  great  variety  of  our  val 
uable  woods,  we  cannot  fail  to  see  that  in  her  forests 
alone  Tennessee  possesses  an  element  of  wealth  which 
is  by  no  means  contemptible.  In  the  past  history  of  our 
State,  outside  of  a few  localities,  comparatively  little 
value  has  been  attached  to  the  timber  contained  in  our 
forests,  but  within  the  last  few  years  it  has  rapidly  appre- 
ciated in  value,  and  is  fast  becoming  a source  of  very 
considerable  revenue  to  the  people  of  Tennessee. 

In  the  number  of  species  and  varieties  of  trees,  Ten- 
nessee is  probably  not  surpassed  by  any  State  in  the 
Union. 

I am  not  aware  that*  there  has  ever  been  made  a full 
catalogue  of  all  the  trees  of  our  forests,  but  the  following 
may  be  mentioned  : Oaks  of  many  varieties,  including 

the  red  oak,  black  oak,  white  oak,  post  oak,  water  oak, 
pin  oak,  chestnut  oak,  black-jack  oak,  etc. ; yellow  and 
blue  poplar,  yellow  and  white  pine,  black  and  white  wal- 
nut, hard  and  soft  maple,  balsam  and  black  fir,  white  and 
blue  ash,  beech,  birch,  chestnut,  red  cedar,  dogwood, 
buckeye,  cottonwood,  sycamore,  catalpa,  cypress,  wild 
cherry,  elms  of  several  varieties,  linn,  black  and  honey 
locust,  hickory  of  half  a dozen  varieties,  pecan,  mulberry, 
sassafras,  holly,  pawpaw,  persimmon,  sweet  gum,  black 
gum,  tupelo  gum,  cucumber,  black  and  red  haw,  plum, 


Southern  hnmirgation  Association . 251 

crab  apple,  service,  sourwood,  wahoo,  willow,  box-elder, 
hemlock,  etc.  It  is  unnecessary,  specifically,  to  describe 
these,  as  those  most  valuable  are  generally  well  known. 

Of  these,  the  oaks  abound  throughout  the  State. 
The  pines  are  abundant  in  many  portions  of  East  Ten- 
nessee, in  the  southwestern  part  of  Middle  Tennessee, 

! and  in  the  southwestern  part  of  West  Tennessee.  Pop- 
lar is  abundant  in  portions  of  East  Tennessee,  in  the 
hilly  and  undulating  parts  of  Middle  Tennessee,  and  is 
very  generally  diffused  in  West  Tennessee.  Hemlock 
is  confined  to  the  mountains  of  East  Tennessee.  The 
maples  grow  in  all  sections  of  the  State.  Ash  and 
beech  are  found  in  every  division.  Cottonwood  is 
generally  confined  to  the  river  valleys,  cypress  to  the 
marshy  lands  in  West  Tennessee,  hickory  almost  every- 
where, sweet  gum  most  abundant  in  the  valleys  of 
Middle  and  West  Tennessee  ; black  walnut  within  reach 
: of  transportation  is  becoming  scarce.  The  chestnut 
oak,  so  valuable  for  its  bark  for  tanning  purposes,  is 
abundant  on  the  high  lands  of  Middle  Tennessee  and 
those  bordering  the  Tennessee  river  on  the  west.  Red 
j ceaar  is  most  abundant  in  some  portions  of  Middle 
j Tennessee,  though  found  also  in  East  Tennessee.  For 
* white  oak,  poplar  and  sweet  gum,  three  very  valuable 
timbers,  portions  of  West  Tennessee  are  perhaps  unsur- 
passed by  any  localities  in  the  world.  In  the  belt  of 
counties  lying  along  the  western  base  of  the  Cumber- 
land mountains  there  is  much  valuable  timber,  which 
has  never  been  drawn  upon  except  for  local  use.  The 
, same  is  true  in  all  parts  of  the  State  where  transporta- 
tion has  not  been  convenient  and  cheap.  These  tim- 
bers are  now  being  eagerly  sought  after  by  northern 
manufacturers  and  shippers.  The  counties  bordering 
on  the  Mississippi  afford  perhaps  the  grandest  supply  of 


252  Proceedings  of  the 

poplar  of  any  similar  area  in  the  world.  In  a single 
county  (Obion)  there  were,  a short  time  since,  as  many 
as  fifty-five  mills  in  operation,  with  an  aggregate  pro- 
duction of  about  a million  feet  of  lumber  per  day. 

LAKES,  BAYOUS,  RIVERS  AND  CREEKS. 

In  describing  the  Mississippi  bottom,  I spoke  of  the 
lakes,  bayous  and  swamps  to  be  found  in  its  limits. 
There  are  a number  of  these  which  are  not  of  sufficient 
importance  to  demand  special  description.  The  most 
important,  and  the  only  one  which  I shall  describe,  is 
Reelfoot  lake.  This  is  a body  of  water  about  eighteen 
miles  in  length  and  from  one  to  three  miles  in  width. 
It  lies  within  the  Mississippi  bottom,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State,  and  reaching  a short  distance  into 
Kentucky.  The  water  over  much  of  this  area  is  shallow, 
though  in  some  places  it  possesses  great  depth.  Fish 
of  many  species  are  found  in  the  lake,  and  wild  fowl  in 
countless  numbers  make  it  a winter  resort.  Reelfoot 
lake  is  said  to  have  been  formed  by  the  earthquake  of 
1 8 1 1 . The  bed  of  Reelfoot  creek  is  said  to  have  been 
filled  up  so  as  to  interrupt  the  outflow  of  its  waters, 
while  the  area  which  now  forms  the  bed  of  the  lake 
is  supposed  to  have  sunk  several  feet  below  its  former 
level.  The  lake  is  a great  place  of  resort  for  purposes 
of  shooting  and  fishing  during  the  later  fall  and  winter 
months.  There  are  numerous  other  lakes  in  the  “bot- 
tom,” but  they  are  smaller  and  of  minor  importance. 

Tennessee  has  three  great  rivers,  which,  with  their 
tributaries,  constitute  three  river  systems.  The  first  of 
these  is  the  Mississippi,  which  washes  the  western 
boundary  of  the  State  from  the  north  to  the  south, 
giving,  in  its  tortuous  course,  several  hundred  miles 
of  river  front,  and  affording  unlimited  means  for  trans- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  253 

portation.  The  principal  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi 
in  Tennessee  are  the  Obion,  Forked  Deer  and  Big 
Hatchie.  These  streams  are  at  some  seasons  navigable 
for  small  steamers  for  some  distance  from  their  mouths, 
and  are  the  avenues  of  considerable  commerce.  Their 
general  direction  is  from  the  southeast  to  the  northwest. 
The  smaller  streams  of  this  system  will  be  noticed  in 
speaking  of  the  counties  of  West  Tennessee. 

Next  in  point  of  importance  is  the  Tennessee  river, 
which  rises  in  northwestern  Virginia.  Under  the  name 
of  Holston  it  enters  Tennessee  and  forms  a junction 
with  the  Clinch  near  Kingston,  in  Roane  county,  where 
it  takes  the  name  of  the  Tennessee.  Before  reaching 
Kingston  it  receives  the  waters  of  the  Watauga,  the 
Nola  Chucky,  the/ French  Broad,  the  Little  Tennessee 
and  other  streams  which  have  their  ultimate  sources  in 
the  mountains  of  North  Carolina.  The  Clinch,  which 
also  rises  in  Virginia,  receives  the  waters  of  a number 
of  confluents,  the  most  important  of  which  is  Powell’s 
river.  Pursuing  a general  southwestern  course,  it  re- 
ceives the  waters  of  the  Ocoee  and  Hiwassee,  and 
reaches  Chattanooga,  where,  cutting  through  Walden’s 
ridge,  it  reaches  the  Sequatchie  valley,  receives  the 
waters  of  the  Sequatchie  river,  and  soon  crosses  the 
State  line  into  Alabama.  In  its  course  through  Ala- 
bama its  most  important  confluent  is  Elk  river,  which 
comes  from  Tennessee.  Reaching  the  Mississippi  bor- 
der and  forming  for  a short  distance  the  boundary  be- 
tween Alabama  and  Mississippi,  it  again  enters  Ten- 
nessee and  pursues  a generally  northerly  course  eutirely 
across  the  State  into  Kentucky,  where  it  falls  into  the 
Ohio  at  Paducah.  In  this  latter  course  through  Ten- 
nessee its  most  important  tributaries  are  Duck  river 
from  the  east,  and  Big  Sandy  from  the  west.  From  the 


254 


Proceedings  of  the 

head  waters  of  the  Holston  this  stream  is  1,100  miles 
long,  and  has  a drainage  area  of  40,000  square  miles, 
embracing  parts  of  seven  States. 

From  Paducah  to  the  Alabama  State  line  Tennessee 
river  is  navigable  for  steamers  at  all  stages.  There  is  a 
series  of  obstructions  or  shoals  in  Alabama  which  pre- 
vent the  passage  of  boats,  except  during  a favorable 
stage  of  water.  A canal  is  now  being  constructed 
around  these  shoals,  supported  by  appropriations  made 
by  Congress.  This,  with  the  other  improvements  which 
are  being  made  above  this  point,  it  is  hoped  will  soon 
give  uninterrupted  navigation  to  Kingston  for  the  entire 
year.  In  a good  stage  of  water  boats  can  ascend  to 
Knoxville,  and  even  pass  up  some  of  the  larger  tribu- 
taries beyond  that  city. 

The  Cumberland  River , which,  with  its  tributaries,  con- 
stitutes the  third  system,  takes  its  rise  in  the  southeast- 
ern part  of  Kentucky.  It  enters  Tennessee  in  Clay 
county,  and  pursues  a very  tortuous,  though  generally 
southwest,  course  to  Carthage,  in  Smith  county ; thence 
more  westwardly,  and  again  southwest  to  Nashville. 
From  Nashville  to  Clarksville,  its  general  course  is 
northwest.  At  Clarksville,  it  again  turns  to  the  south- 
west, but  once  more  turns  northwest,  and  crossing  the 
State  line,  re-enters  Kentucky,  and  finally  pours  its 
waters  into  the  Ohio  at  Smithland.  In  its  course  through 
Tennessee,  its  principal  tributaries  are,  from  the  eastern 
and  southern  side,  the  Obed,  Roaring,  Caney  Fork  and 
Harpeth  rivers.  From  the  north,  the  confluents  are 
less  important,  the  chief  one  being  Red  river.  The 
Cumberland  is  about  650  miles  in  length.  Of  this  dis- 
tance, nearly  600  miles  are,  or  can  be  made  navigable. 
Improvements  are  now  in  progress  wnich  it  is  hoped 
will  remove  some  of  the  difficulties  and  add  immensely 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  255 

to  the  already  great  value  of  this  stream  as  a medium 
for  the  transportation  of  the  varied  and  valuable  pro- 
ducts of  the  section  through  which  it  flows. 

Besides  these  principal  rivers,  are  many  smaller  rivers 
and  creeks,  which  traverse  every  section  of  the  State, 
affording  in  many  cases  navigation  for  keel  and  flat 
boats,  and  furnishing  water-power  sufficient  to  drive  a 
vast  amount  of  machinery.  On  these  smaller  streams 
are  numerous  cataracts,  some  of  which  possess  great 
beauty.  The  great  majority  of  these  smaller  streams 
are  fed  by  perennial  springs,  and  consequently  the 
streams  are  unfailing. 

RAILROADS. 

The  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia  Railroad 
system  commences  at  Bristol,  on  the  Virginia  line,  where 
it  connects  with  the  Norfolk  & Western  to  Richmond 
and  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  north  to  Washington  City  and 
New  York.  From  Bristol  the  main  line  extends  through 
Knoxville  and  Cleveland  to  Chattanooga,  from  Cleve- 
land, Tenn.,  via  Dalton  and  Rome,  Ga.,  and  Selma,  Ala., 
to  Meridian,  Miss.,  and  from  Rome,  Ga.,via  Atlanta  and 
Macon  to  the  sea  at  Brunswick,  Ga.  It  also  has  the 
Memphis  & Charleston  R.  R.  from  Chattanooga  to 
Memphis  leased,  and  has  branches  from  Knoxville  to 
the  Kentucky  line,  connecting  with  the  Louisville  & 
Nashville  to  Louisville,  and  the  Kentucy  Central  to  Cin- 
cinnatti ; also  a branch  from  Morristown  to  Paint  Rock, 
on  the  North  Carolina  line,  where  it  connects  with  the 
Western  North  Carolina  railroad,  which  extends  through 
North  -Carolina  to  the  sea  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  and 
Norfolk,  Va.,  and  by  connecting  roads  in  South  Caro- 
lina, also  reaches  Charleston  and  Columbia.  The  total 
mileage  directly  under  its  control  is  1,432  miles,  but  it 
is  virtually  under  the  same  management  as  the  Norfolk 


256 


Proceedings  of  the 

& Western  and  the  Shenandoah  roads  in  Virginia,  thus 
making  a total  of  2,170  miles;  and  by  a contract  with 
the  Louisville  & Nashville,  the  East  Tennessee,  Vir- 
ginia & Georgia  cars  go  into  New  Orleans  over  the 
track  of  that  road.  Thus  there  is  a continuous  track 
laid  for  the  same  car  from  Washington  td  New  Orleans, 
virtually  under  the  same  control. 

The  length  of  the  line  of  this  road  from  Bristol  to 
Chattanooga  is  242  miles,  from  Cleveland  to  Dalton 
thirty  miles,  about  ten  of  it  in  Tennessee,  and  from 
Ooltewah  to  Red  Clay  twelve  miles — all  in  Tennessee. 
The  Ohio  Division,  from  Knoxville  to  the  Kentucky 
line,  is  fifty-eight  miles  long,  and  the  North  Carolina 
Division,  from  Morristown  to  Paint  Rock,  is  forty-five 
miles  in  length. 

The  main  line  commences  at  Bristol,  in  the  county  of 
Sullivan,  and  passes  southwest  from  that  county  through 
one  corner  of  Carter,  the  center  of  Washington,  touch- 
ing the  towns  of  Jonesboro,  Telfords  and  Limestone, 
diagonally  through  the  northern  part  of  Greene,  touch- 
ing Fullens,  Home,  Greeneville  and  Midway,  directly 
through  the  county  of  Hamblen,  touching  Rogersville 
Junction,  where  it  connects  with  a road  to  Rogersville, 
and  the  center  of  the  fertile  county  of  Hawkins,  the 
great  marble  producing  region,  thence  through  the 
northern  part  of  Jefferson,  touching  Talbott’s,  Mossy 
Creek,  New  Market,  Strawberry  Plains  into  the  heart 
of  Knox  and  to  Knoxville,  also  touching  McMillan’s, 
Ebenezer  and  Concord,  thence  through  the  county  of 
Loudon,  the  edge  of  Monroe,  of  McMinn,  to  Cleveland 
in  Bradley,  and  through  James  to  Chattanooga,  in  Ham- 
ilton county,  passing  through  the  flourishing  towns  of 
Loudon,  Sweetwater,  Athens,  Riceville,  Charleston  and 
Ooltewah,  and  the  manufacturing  village  of  Lenoir.  The 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  257 

Ohio  Division  passes  through  Anderson  and  Campbell 
counties,  and  the  towns  of  Powell,  Haskell,  Clinton, 
Coal  Creek  and  Careyville — the  last  two  mining  towns. 
The  North  Carolina  Division  passes  through  Witts, 
White  Pine,  Leadvale,  Newport,  Whitwell  and  Wolf 
Creek. 

The  principal  offices  of  this  company  are  at  Knoxville, 
Tenn.  The  officers  are : President,  Samuel  Thomas, 

New  York  city;  Vice-president  and  General  Manager, 
Henry  Fink,  Knoxville  ; General  Superintendent,  John 
F.  O’Brien,  Knoxville;  Superintendent,  Main  Line,  F.  K. 
Huger,  Knoxville;  J.  R.  Ogden,  General  Passenger  and 
Freight  Agent. 

Louisville,  Nashville  & Great  Southern.  This  road 
originates  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  but  its  main  line  terminates 
in  the  State,  and  by  its  branches,  leased  and  controlled 
lines,  it  extends  across  and  over  a large  part  of  Tennes- 
see. The  main  line  is  from  Louisville  to  Nashville,  185 
miles,  with  a branch  from  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  to  Mem- 
phis. But  the  system  of  roads  it  operates  extends  to 
Mobile,  Pensacola  and  New  Orleans,  and  it  controls, 
but  does  not  directly  operate,  to  Chattanooga,  Atlanta 
and  Savannah. 

The  entire  line  of  road  under  its  operation  in  the 
State  is  377  miles,  and  consists  of  the  main  line  from  the 
Kentucky  boundary  to  Nashville,  the  Nashville  & Deca- 
tur road  to  Alabama,  the  Nashville  & Florence  and  the 
Memphis  branch  from  Guthrie  to  Memphis.  The  main 
line  enters  the  State  in  Sumner  county,  and  thence  into 
Davidson  to  Nashville,  passing  through  the  thriving 
town  of  Gallatin.  The  Memphis  branch  enters  the 
State  in  the  county  of  Montgomery,  and  passing  through 
its  center,  and  the  beautiful  and  flourishing  city  of  Clarks- 
ville, touches  a corner  of  Stewart ; passes  through  the 
*7 


258  Proceedings  of  the 

northern  part  of  Houston  and  Benton,  goes  directly 
through  Henry  and  the  town  of  Paris,  its  county  seat, 
through  the  northwest  corner  of  Carroll,  the  southeast 
corner  of  Gibson  and  Crockett,  through  the  center  of 
Haywood  and  the  city  of  Brownsville,  through  a corner 
of  Fayette  and  through  Shelby  to  Memphis.  At  McKen- 
zie it  connects  with  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St. 
Louis  Railroad,  at  Milan  with  the  Chicago,  St.  Louis  & 
New  Orleans,  and  at  Humboldt  with  the  Mobile  & Ohio 
Railroad.  At  Guthrie  it  connects  with  the  St.  Louis  & 
Southeastern  road,  on  the  north  to  Evansville,  and  on 
the  south  for  Nashville.  It  passes  through  the  thriving 
towns  of  Paris,  McKenzie,  Milan,  Humboldt,  Gadsden, 
Bell’s,  Stanton,  Mason  and  Galloway.  The  St.  Louis  & 
Southeastern  road  enters  the  State  at  Guthrie,  and  passes 
through  the  county  of  Robertson  and  its  county  seat, 
Springfield,  into  Davidson  to  Nashville.  The  Nashville 
& Decatur  road  passes  from  Davidson  county  through 
the  center  of  the  counties  of  Williamson,  Maury  and 
Giles  into  Alabama,  touching  the  towns  of  Franklin, 
Columbia  and  Pulaski,  and  traversing  the  finest  agri- 
cultural region  of  the  State.  The  Nashville  & Florence 
road  extends  from  Columbia  to  Sandy  Hook  Station,  at 
the  foot  of  Highland  Rim,  about  twenty  miles,  and  is 
being  continued  into  Lawrence  county. 

The  officers  of  this  road  are  : President,  M.  Id.  Smith, 
New  York  city;  Pdrst  Vice-president,  E.  P.  Alexander, 
Louisville  ; Second  Vice-president,  G.  A.  Washington, 
Nashville  ; General  Manager,  W.  A.  Ouarrier,  Louis- 
ville ; General  Passenger  Agent,  C.  P.  Atmore,  Louis- 
ville ; Superintendent  Nashville  & Decatur  Division  and 
Nashville  & Henderson  Division,  J.  Geddes,  Nashville. 

Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  extends  from 
Chattanooga  to  Hickman,  Ky.  The  entire  length  of 


Southern  Immigration  Association , 259 

the  line  is  321  miles.  For  the  purpose  of  getting  a good 
passage  through  the  Cumberland  Mountain,  this  line 
deflects  out  a general  southwest  course  from  Chatta- 
nooga, and  runs  for  a short  distance  in  the  State  of 
Alabama,  and  to  reach  the  terminus  on  the  Mississippi, 
a few  miles  are  in  Kentucky.  At  Hickman  it  connects 
with  the  Iron  Mountain  road  to  St.  Louis;  at  Union 
City,  with  the  Mobile  & Ohio  road;  at  Paducah  Junc- 
tion, with  the  Chesapeake,  Ohio  & Southwestern  ; at 
Martin,  with  the  Chicago,  St.  Louis  & New  Orleans 
road  ; at  McKenzie,  with  the  Memphis  branch  of  the 
Louisville  & Nashville  ; at  Nashville,  with  the  Louisville 
& Nashville  system  north  and  south  ; and  at  Chatta- 
nooga with  the  numerous  roads  converging  at  that  city 
from  all  sections  of  the  country.  The  company  controls 
and  operates  the  following  branches  : Jasper  Branch, 
from  Bridgeport  to  South  Pittsburg — Jasper,  Victoria 
and  other  points  in  Sequatchie  Valley,  twenty-two  miles; 
Fayetteville  Branch,  from  Decherd  to  Fayetteville,  forty 
miles,  there  connecting  with  the  Duck  River  Narrow- 
gauge  to  Columbia;  Shelbyville  Branch,  from  Wartrace 
to  Shelbyville,  eight  miles  ; McMinnville  Branch,  from 
Tullahoma  to  Rock  Island,  on  Caney  Fork  river,  thirty- 
five  miles,  and  being  rapidly  completed  to  Sparta  ; the 
Tennessee  & Pacific,  from  Nashville  to  Lebanon,  thirty- 
one  miles,;  and  the  Nashville  & Tuscaloosa,  from  Dick- 
son to  Centerville,  in  Hickman  county,  thirty-two  miles. 
This  road  is  a narrow-gauge,  and  is  being  steadily  con- 
tinued southward. 

This  road  passes  through  more  counties  than  any 
other  road  in  the  State,  and  is  essentially  a Tennessee 
road.  Though  nominally  controlled  by  the  Louisville 
& Nashville,  its  actual  management  is  entirely  distinct. 
The  main  line  and  branches  pass  through  from  Chatta- 


26o 


Proceedings  of  the 

nooga  and  Hamilton  county,  and  the  following  counties : 
Marion,  Franklin,  Lincoln,  Coffee,  Bedford,  Warren, 
Rutherford,  Davidson,  Wilson,  Cheatham,  Dickson, 
Hickman,  Humphreys,  Benton,  Carroll,  Weakley  and 
Obion. 

Along  its  lines  the  following  are  the  principal  towns 
and  cities:  Chattanooga,  Jasper,  Manchester,  Fayette- 
ville, Tullahoma,*  McMinnville,  Shelbyville,  Murfrees- 
boro, McMinn,  Dickson,  Centerville,  Waverly,  Cam- 
den, Huntingdon,  McKenzie,  Dresden  and  Union  City. 

The  principal  offices  of  this  company  are  located  at 
Nashville.  Its  officers  are  : President,  James  D.  Porter; 
General  Manager,  J.  W.  Thomas  ; General  Superintend- 
ent, M.  J.  C.  Wrenne;  General  Freight  Agent,  Geo.  R. 
Knox  ; General  Passenger  Agent,  W.  L.  Danley ; Agent 
of  Chattanooga,  J.  L.  McCollum. 

The  Memphis  & Charleston  Railroad  extends  by  its 
own  line  from  Memphis  to  Stevenson,  from  whence,  by 
lease,  it  runs  into  Chattanooga  over  the  line  of  the 
Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  Railroad.  It  is 
now  consolidated  with  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & 
Georgia  Railroad.  This  road  has  a branch  from  Mos- 
cow to  Somerville.  From  Memphis  and  Shelby  county, 
it  passes  through  Fayette,  Hardeman  and  McNairy 
counties  into  Alabama,  and  does  not  again  reach  Ten- 
nessee until  after  its  union  with  the  Nashville,  Chatta- 
nooga & St.  Louis  Railroad. 

R.  B.  Peagram,  Jr.,  Memphis,  is  Superintendent  of 
this  division  of  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia 
system. 

Chicago,  St.  Louis  & New  Orleans  Railroad  enters 
the  State  from  Kentucky  in  Obion  county,  passes 
through  Weakley,  Gibson,  Madison  and  Hardeman  into 
Mississippi.  On  the  north  it  extends  to  St.  Louis  and 


26i 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

Chicago,  and  on  the  south  to  New  Orleans.  The  length 
of  the  line  in  this  State  is  1 1 2 miles.  It  connects  at 
Martin  with  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis 
road  ; at  Milan  with  the  Memphis  branch  of  the  Louis- 
ville & Nashville;  at  Jackson  with  the  Mobile  81  Ohio; 
and  at  Grand  Junction  with  the  Memphis  & Charleston. 

The  principal  towns  through  which  it  passes  in  Ten- 
nessee are  Martin,  Milan,  Jackson  and  Bolivar.  Its 
principal  offices  are  located  at  New  Orleans.  Its  prin- 
cipal officers  are:  James  C.  Clark,  Vice-president  and 
General  Manager;  D.  B.  Morey,  General  Freight 
Agent;  and  j.  W.  Coleman,  General  Passenger  and 
Ticket  Agent. 

The  Mobile  & Ohio  Railroad  extends  from  Mobile  to 
Columbus,  Ky.,  where  it  connects  to  St.  Louis  by  the 
Iron  Mountain  road,  and  to  Chicago  by  the  Chicago,  St. 
Louis  & New  Orleans.  It  enters  the  State  from  Ken- 
tucky in  Obion  county,  near  Union  City,  and  passes 
through  Gibson,  Madison  and  McNairy  into  Mississippi, 
having  a length  in  this  State  of  112  miles.  It  connects 
at  Union  City  with  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St. 
Louis  ; at  Rives  with  the  Chesapeake,  Ohio  & South- 
western ; at  Humboldt  with  the  Memphis  branch  of  the 
Louisville  & Nashville  ; at  Jackson  with  the  Chicago, 
St.  Louis  & New  Orleans  ; and  at  Corinth,  Miss.,  with 
the  Memphis  & Charleston. 

The  principal  offices  are  at  Mobile,  and  the  officers 
are  : W.  Butler  Duncan,  President ; G.  Jordan,  Vice- 
president  and  General  Manager;  and  C.  J.  Walker, 
General  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent. 

Chesapeake,  Ohio  & Southwestern  Railroad  extends 
from  Paducah,  Ky.,  to  Memphis,  but  is  not  fully  com- 
pleted. The  completed  line  is  from  Paducah  to  New- 
bern,  Tenn.,  eighty-five  miles,  of  which  thirty-six  is  in 


262 


Pi' ocee dings  of  the 

Tennessee;  on  the  Memphis  end  it  is  completed  from 
Memphis  to  Covington,  thirty-seven  miles.  It  connects, 
at  Paducah  with  steamers  on  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee 
rivers,  and  with  the  Elizabethtown  & Paducah  road  for 
Louisville  and  the  East ; at  Fulton  with  the  Chicago, 
St.  Louis  & New  Orleans  road;  at  Paducah  Junction 
with  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  ; and  at 
Rives  with  the  Mobile  & Ohio  road. 

The  officers  are  : C.  P.  Huntington,  President ; John 
Echols,  Vice-president ; P.  Gore,  Superintendent;  Robert 
Weeks,.  General  Manager. 

Cincinnati,  New  Orleans,  Texas  & Pacific  Railroad 
extends  from  Cincinnati  to  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  and  thence 
to  Shreveport,  La.,  by  road  being  constructed;  also 
from  Meridian,  Miss.,  to  New  Orleans,  by  road  now 
being  constructed.  From  Cincinnati  to  Monroe,  La., 
to  which  point  the  road  is  now  completed,  the  distance 
is  843  miles.  The  same  management  is  also  construct- 
ing a road  from  Eutaw,  Ala.,  to  Memphis.  The  part 
of  the  line  in  this  State  was  formerly  known  as  the  Cin- 
cinnati Southern  Railway,  and  is  consolidated  by  lease 
with  the  Alabama  Great  Southern.  The  length  of  track 
in  Tennessee  is  168  miles.  It  comes  into  the  State  from 
Kentucky  in  the  county  of  Scott,  passes  through  that 
county,  Morgan,  Roane,  Rhea  and  Hamilton  to  Chatta- 
nooga ; thence  by  the  Alabama  Great  Southern  it  passes 
into  Alabama.  It  will  probably  be  the  great  coal  and 
mineral  road  of  the  State  and  of  the  South.  It  connects 
at  Oakdale  Junction  with  the  Walden’s  Ridge  Railroad 
to  Oakdale  Furnace  and  Winter’s  Gap  ; at  Rockwood 
with  the  Roane  County  Narrow-gauge  to  the  Tennessee 
river;  at  Spring  City  with  the  Sequatchie  Valley  Rail- 
road ; and  at  Chattanooga  with  the  numerous  railroad 
lines  centering  at  that  city. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  263 

The  principal  office  is  at  Cincinnati.  The  officers  are  : 
President  and  General  Manager,  John  Scott;  Superin- 
tendent, Cecil  Fleming ; General  Passenger  Agent, 
C.  P.  Wilson. 

The  Duck  River  Valley  Railroad  is  a narrow-gauge, 
extending  from  Columbia  to  Fayetteville,  at  which  point 
it  connects  with  the  Fayetteville  branch  of  the  Nashville, 
Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  road.  Superintendent,  George 
Childress. 

The  Rogersville  & Jefferson  Railroad  extends  from 
Rogersville  Junction,  on  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia 
& Georgia  road,  to  Rogersville,  in  Hawkins  county, 
fifteen  miles.  President,  H.  M.  Aiken,  Knoxville.  Busi- 
ness office  at  Rogersville. 

The  East  Tennessee  & Western  North  Carolina  Rail- 
road is  a narrow-gauge  road,  extending  from  Johnson 
City,  on  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia  road, 
forty-five  miles,  to  the  Cranberry  Iron  Mines  in  North 
Carolina.  It  is  almost  wholly  in  the  county  of  Carter. 
The  officers  are  : A.  Pardee,  Jr.,  President,  Philadelphia, 
Pa. ; T.  E.  Matson,  Chief  Engineer  and  Superintendent, 
Elizabethton,  Carter  county,  Tenn. 

The  Walden’s  Ridge  Railroad  is  a narrow-gauge ; 
extends  from  Oakdale  Junction,  on  the  Cincinnati  South- 
ern road,  near  Emery  Gap,  over  the  leased  line  of  the 
Oakdale  & Cumberland  Mountain  road,  to  Oakdale 
Furnace,  and  thence,  by  its  own  line,  to  Winter’s  Gap 
Coal  Mines.  It  is  a narrow-gauge,  but  the  road-bed  is 
graded  for  a wide  track.  It  is  in  the  counties  of  Morgan 
and  Roane.  The  principal  office  is  at  Jenks,  Roane 
county,  Tenn.  The  officers  are : President,  John  G. 
Scott ; Secretary  and  Treasurer,  B.  V.  Jenks. 

The  Roane  County  Narrow-gauge  is  five  miles  long, 
and  extends  from  the  furnaces  at  Rockwood  to  King’s 


264  Proceedmgs  of  the 

Creek  P.  O.,  on  the  Tennessee  river,  where  it  connects 
with  steamboat  lines.  General  Manager,  H.  Clay 
Evans,  Chattanooga. 

The  Sequatchie  Valley  Railroad  is  in  course  of  con- 
struction from  Spring  City,  on  the  Cincinnati  Southern, 
to  the  Cumberland  Plateau  and  across  to  Pikeville,  in 
Sequatchie  Valley.  It  is  completed  about  half  the  total 
length.  Officers  : President,  Charles  Clinton  ; Superin- 
tendent, Isaac  Britton.  Offices  at  Spring  City,  Tenn. 

The  Tennessee  Coal  & Iron  Company's  Railroad 
leaves  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  road  at 
Cowan,  and  extends  to  the  company's  coal  mines  at 
Tracy  City,  twenty-three  miles.  It  passes  by  Sewanee, 
the  location  of  the  University  of  the  South,  and  gives 
access  to  the  summer  resorts  on  the  Cumberland  Table- 
land. President,  J.  C.  Warner  ; General  Manager,  A.  M. 
Shook. 

AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTS. 

Tennessee  is  so  happily  situated,  geographically  and 
topographically,  that  her  fields  yield,  in  greater  or  less 
abundance,  nearly  every  agricultural  product  known  to 
the  temperate  zones.  Perhaps  no  State  in  the  Union 
can  surpass  her  in  this  respect.  The  principal  crops 
cultivated  are  corn,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  barley,  clover, 
a great  variety  of  grasses,  sorghum,  tobacco,  cotton, 
potatoes,  vegetables  of  all  kinds,  and  fruits  in  great 
abundance  and  variety.  It  has  been  truthfully  said  that 
were  the  State  surrounded  by  an  impassable  barrier, 
she  could  produce  within  her  own  borders  every  essen- 
tial to  the  subsistence  of  a dense  population. 

Hitherto  our  agricultural  methods  have  been,  in  the 
main,  quite  primitive  in  character,  and  little  attention 
has  been  given  to  fertilization  of  soil  or  to  improved 
methods  of  culture  With  better  systems  of  cultivation 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  265 

and  the  judicious  use  of  fertilizers,  I feel  warranted  in 
saying  that  the  average  yield  per  acre  of  all,  or  nearly 
all,  of  the  crops  cultivated  in  Tennessee  may  be  doubled. 
There  are  millions  of  acres  of  uplands  now  lying  idle 
which  may  be  brought  into  cultivation  and  made  to 
yield  remunerative  crops  of  grain  or  grass,  and  much  of 
our  low  land  which,  by  a slight  expense  for  drainage, 
can  be  made  to  equal  in  productiveness  the  most  fertile 
lands  of  the  world. 

According  to  the  census  returns  for  1880,  the  area 
devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  corn  in  Tennessee  was 
2,904,873  acres,  which  produced  62,764,429  bushels, 
an  average  of  21.6  bushels  per  acre.  The  area  devoted 
to  wheat  was  1,196,563  acres.  The  yield,  as  reported, 
was  7,331,353  bushels,  being  an  average  yield  of  6.12 
bushels  per  acre.  Of  rye,  the  acreage  was  32,493  acres, 
the  yield  156,419  bushels,  and  the  average  4.8  bushels. 
The  area  sown  to  oats  was  468,566  acres,  which  pro- 
duced 4,622,190  bushels,  or  an  average  yield  per  acre 
of  ten  bushels.  Of  buckwheat  there  were  4,907  acres, 
which  yielded  33,434  bushels,  or  6.8  bushels  per  acre. 
Of  barley  there  were  2,600  acres,  from  which  30,019 
bushels  were  harvested,  or  an  average  of  11.5  bushels 
per  acre.  As  the  total  population  of  Tennessee  was 
1,542,259,  it  will  thus  be  seen  that  forty-two  bushels  of 
the  cereals  were  produced  in  the  State  for  each  man, 
woman  and  child  within  her  limits. 

According  to  the  same  returns,  cotton  for  that  year 
was  grown  only  in  twenty -five  of  the  ninety -five 
counties  of  the  State,  the  area  being  722,562  acres, 
and  the  yield  being  330,621  bales,  Shelby  county  being 
next  to  the  largest  cotton-producing  county  in  the 
Union.  The  average  yield  per  acre  in  pounds  for  the 
State  was  217  pounds  lint. 


266 


Proceedings  of  the 

Tobacco  was  grown  in  every  county  in  the  State,  the 
aggregate  acreage  being  42,532  acres,  and  the  yield 
29,365,052  pounds,  being  an  average  of  690  pounds 
per  acre. 

For  the  cultivation  of  grasses  the  soil  of  Tennessee  is 
well  adapted.  Blue  grass  grows  spontaneously  on  all 
our  limestone  lands.  Timothy,  herds  grass,  and  many 
varieties  of  wild  grasses  grow  with  great  luxuriance. 
Orchard  grass  does  well  and  yields  heavy  crops,  giving 
excellent  grazing  during  the  winter  and  early  spring. 
Bermuda  grass  yields  rich  pasturage  during  the  dryest 
and  hottest  portions  of  the  year.  Red  clover  gives  a 
bountiful  crop,  making  from  two  to  three  tons  of  excel- 
lent hay  per  acre. 

Irish  potatoes  will  grow  from  one  hundred  to  three 
hundred  bushels  per  acre  and  of  good  quality.  Sweet 
potatoes  are  equally  productive  and  are  unsurpassed  as 
to  quality.  Melons  of  all  kinds,  pumpkins,  squashes 
and  kindred  products  yield  largely.  Beans,  peas  and 
vegetables  of  nearly  all  kinds  are  raised  in  great  abun- 
dance. Turnips  grow  to  several  pounds’  weight.  The 
stock  pea  furnishes  heavy  crops  of  forage,  and  is  regard- 
ed by  many  as  being  superior  to  clover  as  a renovator 
of  exhausted  soils.  Sorghum  grows  to  great  perfection 
and  possesses  saccharine  properties  in  a high  degree. 

ORCHARD  PRODUCTS. 

Fruits  of  nearly  all  kinds  common  to  temperate  cli- 
mates thrive  well  in  Tennessee.  Peaches,  when  the 
orchards  are  judiciously  located,  seldom  fail  to  bear  full 
crops  of  delicious  fruit.  Apple  orchards,  when  properly 
cared  for,  bear  heavily.  Pears,  plums  and  cherries  are 
successfully  grown  all  over  the  State. 

GARDEN  PRODUCTS. 

Strawberries  are  largely  cultivated  at  many  localities 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  267 

for  distant  markets,  and  repay  the  care  given  them  with 
large  profits.  Blackberries  and  dewberries  are  indi- 
genous, and  grow  in  great  profusion.  Raspberries, 
gooseberries,  currants,  etc.,  grow  to  perfection.  In  the 
last  few  years  the  cultivation  of  grapes  is  receiving 
much  attention  in  various  sections  of  the  State.  They 
are  successfully  grown  for  market  and  for  wine,  which 
is  made  of  excellent  quality.  Our  plateau  lands  are 
well  adapted  for  this  industry.  Recently  various  parties 
at  different  points  have  been  giving  attention  to  the 
rearing  of  silk  worms,  and  have  met  with  marked  suc- 
cess, especially  the  Swiss  colonists  at  Gruteli,  on  the 
Cumberland  Plateau,  and  Mr.  P.  Wallace  McKittrick, 
of  Memphis.  The  mulberry,  on  which  they  feed,  thrives 
on  all  our  soils,  and  the  silk  which  they  produce  is  said 
to  be  of  the  finest  quality. 

CLIMATE. 

The  climate  of  Tennessee  is  as  varied  as  her  topogra- 
phy. Differences  in  altitude  and  topography  affect  cli- 
mate equally  with  differences  of  latitude.  The  city  of 
Vera  Cruz,  in  Mexico,  lies  within  the  tropics ; hence 
has,  in  point  of  temperature,  continual  summer,  while 
# Mount  Qrizaba,  no  more  than  seventy-five  miles  to  the 
westward,  has  perpetual  snow.  We  may  therefore  expect 
to  find  in  Tennessee,  covering  nearly  two  degrees  01 
latitude,  and  nearly  nine  degrees  of  longitude,  and  vary- 
ing in  its  elevation  more  than  6,000  feet,  crossed  by  two 
mountain  ranges,  intersected  by  valleys  and  great  rivers, 
a great  variety  of  climate.  The  lofty  mountains  of  East 
Tennessee  must  necessarily  differ  greatly  in  climatic 
condition  from  the  low-lying  valleys  of  the  west.  The 
valley  of  East  Tennessee,  sheltered  from  the  winds  by 
the  surrounding  mountains,  having  an  elevation  of  1,000 


268 


Proceedings  of  the 

feet  above  the  sea  level,  must  necessarily  differ  from  the 
land-locked  basin  of  Middle  Tennessee,  with  its  lesser 
altitude  of  700  feet. 

The  Cumberland  Plateau,  with  an  elevation  of  2,000 
feet,  has  a climate  different  from  the  plateau  or  slope  of 
West  Tennessee,  with  its  varying  altitude  of  from  four 
to  700  feet. 

Accordingly,  we  find  a greatly  diversified  climate, 
varying  in  humidity  and  temperature,  according  to  these 
varying  circumstances.  Observations  reported  by  Prof. 
Safford,  taken  at  six  different  stations,  show  differences 
of  mean  temperature  as  follows : Knoxville,  average 
mean  for  three  years,  57. 03° ; Lebanon,  two  years, 
57.76°  ; Nashville,  five  years,  58.47°  ; Glenwood,  twenty- 
one  years,  56.78°;  Memphis,  two  years,  60.80°. 

Knoxville  is  in  the  valley  of  East  Tennessee,  with  an 
elevation  of  about  1,000  feet.  Nashville,  in  Middle 
Tennessee,  with  an  altitude  of  600  feet,  shows  a tem- 
perature 1.44°  higher  than  Knoxville.  For  the  year 
1855,  the  difference  between  these  points  was  2.08°. 
Glenwood,  near  the  northern  boundary  of  the  State, 
for  the  same  year  gave  a mean  temperature  of  57.34°, 
being  2.49°  lower  than  Nashville,  and  a fraction  lower 
than  Knoxville.  This  difference  must  be  the  result  of% 
its  more  northern  location,  as  its  altitude  is  100  feet 
below  that  of  Nashville.  Memphis,  which  is  in  the  ex- 
treme southwestern  portion  of  the  State,  for  the  years 
1 855-56,  had  a mean  of  60.80°,  being  2.36°  higher  than 
that  of  Nashville  for  the  same  years.  On  the  Cumber- 
land Table- land,  the  temperature  is  two  or  three  degrees 
lower  than  in  the  valley  of  East  Tennessee,  four  to  five 
lower  than  in  the  central  basin,  and  from  five  to  six  less 
than  on  the  slope  of  West  Tennessee.  The  variations 
of  temperature  are  sufficient  to  give  rise  to  a marked 


269 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

difference  in  the  agricultural  products  of  the  different 
sections.  In  West  Tennessee,  cotton  is  the  leading 
staple  cultivated,  Shelby  county  being  the  second  largest 
cotton  producing  county  in  the  Union.  The  cultivation 
of  this  crop  grows  less  as  the  Kentucky  line  is  approached. 
In  Middle  Tennessee,  only  a few  counties  in  the  southern 
part  are  devoted  to  this  crop,  while  in  East  Tennessee 
it  is  planted  only  in  a few  counties  on  a very  small 
scale.  The  cool  and  bracing  atmosphere  of  the  Cum- 
berland Plateau,  and  of  the  elevated  portions  of  East 
Tennessee,  render  those  parts  of  the  State  delightful  as 
resorts  during  the  summer  heats. 

Of  course  these  variations  in  climate  have,  as  already 
shown  with  reference  to  cotton,  a decided  effect  in 
determining  the  character  of  the  agricultural  products 
of  the  different  sections  of  the  State,  but  of  this  I will 
speak  more  fully  in  another  place. 

The  growing  season  for  the  various  crops  may  be 
computed  by  the  number  of  days  which  elapse  between 
the  last  killing  frost  in  spring  and  the  first  in  autumn. 
From  the  observations  of  Prof.  Stewart  at  Glenwood, 
on  the  northern  boundary  of  the  State,  for  a period  of 
twenty-three  years,  the  average  length  of  the  growing 
season  was  189  days.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  State, 
observation  would  probably  show  about  200  days,  in- 
creased to  210  in  the  western  portion. 

The  amount  of  rainfall  during  a year  is  a very  impor- 
tant point  in  considering  the  climate  of  a country.  If 
there  be  too  much,  it  interferes  with  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil,  while  if  too  little,  the  growth  of  vegetation  is 
checked.  In  this,  as  in  other  respects,  Tennessee  en- 
joys a happy  medium.  According  to  the  observations 
of  Prof.  Stewart,  already  referred  to,  the  average  annual. 


2 JO 


Proceedings  of  the 

rainfall  (including  snow)  for  twenty-three  years  was 
approximately  forty-six  inches. 

Snow  occasionally  falls  throughout  the  State,  varying 
in  quantity  from  the  lightest  covering  to  the  earth  to 
from  four  to  six  inches,  and  in  rare  instances  reaching 
the  depth  of  twelve  to  eighteen  inches.  Except  in  the 
mountain  regions  it  seldom  remains  upon  the  ground 
more  than  a few  days.  Ice  is  sometimes  formed  from 
four  to  ten  inches. 

For  a period  of  ten  years,  during  which  Prof.  Stewart 
has  furnished  us  a record  of  the  direction  of  the  prevail- 
ing winds,  it  appears  that  the  average  number  of  days 
during  which  the  wind  blew  from  different  points  of  the 
compass  were  as  follows  (the  figures  are  given  without 
decimals):  North,  120;  northeast,  128;  east,  105;  south- 
east, 1 19;  south,  176,  southwest,  116;  west,  75  ; north- 
west, 130,  calm,  126. 

The  climatic  conditions  of  Tennessee  axe  highly  favor- 
able to  health  and  longevity,  as  well  as  the  physical 
and  intellectual  development  of  the  human  family. 

LIVE  STOCK. 

In  its  adaptation  for  the  rearing  of  stock,  Tennessee 
is  scarcely  surpassed  by  any  State  in  the  Union.  The 
mildness  of  its  climate,  both  summer  and  winter,  the 
healthfulness  of  its  atmosphere,  the  purity  of  its  water, 
the  richness  of  its  pastures  and  the  abundance  of  grain, 
make  it  the  paradise  of  stock  raisers.  Where  proper 
attention  has  been  given  to  breeding,  Tennessee  can 
show  as  fine  stock  of  all  the  different  kinds  as  are  to  be 
found  anywhere. 

Horses. — According  to  the  census  of  1880  the  number 
of  horses  in  Tennessee  was  266,119,  while  the  number 
of  mules  and  asses  was  173,488,  making  a total  of  439,- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  271 

607.  Many  mules  are  annually  sold  from  Tennessee  to 
supply  the  demand  in  States  further  south.  Maury 
county  exports  more  mules  than  any  county  in  the 
world.  These  animals  are  of  good  size  and  form,  and 
command  high  prices  in  the  market.  Owing  to  the 
advantages  which  our  State  possesses  they  are  cheaply 
raised,  and  add  largely  to  the  revenues  of  our  people. 

Among  the  horses  of  Tennessee  are  some  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  the  equine  race.  Representatives  of  all 
the  different  breeds  which  are  considered  most  valuable 
are  to  be  found  here,  and  the  fact  that  when  carefully 
bred  here  they  retain  all  their  original  excellence,  if, 
indeed,  they  do  not  attain  a higher  development,  is 
proof  conclusive  of  the  adaptation  of  our  soil  and  climate 
for  rearing  animals  of  the  greatest  value.  One  has  but 
to  visit  the  stables  of  some  of  our  prominent  breeders  to 
satisfy  himself  that  Tennessee  horses  are  equal  to  the  best. 

Among  the  most  prominent  breeders  of  the  race-horse 
in  the  State  are  Gen.  Wm.  G.  Harding  (Belle  Meade), 
Nashville,  Tenn. ; Col.  B.  F.  Cockrill  (Richland  Farm), 
Nashville,  Tenn.;  Charles  J.  Reed  (Fairview  Farm), 
Gallatin,  Tenn.;  Capt.  James  C.  Franklin,  Gallatin, 
Tenn. 

Cattle. — The  number  of  cattle  reported  in  1880  was  : 
Milch  cows,  303,832  ; working  oxen,  27,340;  other  cat- 
tle, 452,462  ; total,  783,634.  What  may  be  called  our 
native  breed  of  cattle  are  hardy  and  serviceable  animals. 
They  usually  receive  but  little  care  or  attention.  Their 
natural  hardiness  and  the  mildness  of  our  climate  enable 
them  to  endure  our  winters  upon  scanty  feed,  and  often 
without  any  sort  of  shelter.  During  the  spring  and  sum- 
mer they  fatten  upon  the  natural  pastures,  requiring  no 
attention  but  an  occasional  portion  of  salt.  When  prop- 
erly fattened  they  make  excellent  beef.  As  working 


272  Proceedings  of  the 

oxen  on  the  farm,  their  hardiness,  docility  and  agility 
make  them  highly  valuable.  Among  the  cows  are  many 
excellent  milkers,  both  as  to  quality  and  quantity  of  their 
milk.  Doubtless  if  they  were  carefully  and  judiciously 
bred  for  a few  years,  their  value  as  dairy  stock  would  be 
much  enhanced. 

Of  late  years  much  attention  has  been  given  to  the 
introduction  of  the  improved  breeds  of  cattle.  The 
Short-horn  finds  a congenial  home  upon  our  rich  mead- 
ows. Among  the  large  number  of  breeders  of  the  royal 
Short-horn,  notably  may  be  mentioned  the  names  of  Mr. 
Mark  S.  Cockrill,  Nashville,  Tenn.;  J.  T.  & W.  S. 
Shields,  Bean  Station,  Tenn.;  Hambaugh  & Goodlett, 
Clarksville,  Tenn.;  Messrs.  Sam.  Graham  & Son,  Pine- 
wood,  Tenn.;  J.  C.  Grigsby,  Lebanon,  Tenn.  Almost 
every  stranger  who  visited  Knoxville  during  last  year 
had  occasion  to  admire  Colonel  Dickinson’s  “babies,” 
as  he  facetiously  termed  two  mammoth  Short-horns 
reared  by  him.  These  animals  were  ultimately  sold  for 
the  benefit  of  some  charity,  bringing  something  over 
twenty  cents  per  pound. 

The  small,  though  graceful  and  fawn-like  Jersey  cow, 
is  at  home  upon  our  more  hilly  and  broken  pastures, 
where  the  sweeter  herbage  and  grasses  afford  suitable 
pabulum  for  the  delicious  cream  and  butter  for  which 
this  fairy  among  bovines  is  noted.  Both  these  improved 
breeds  are  now  widely  disseminated,  and  by  their  cross- 
ing with  our  native  cattle  are  adding  greatly  to  the  value 
of  our  stock. 

Among  the  improved  breeds  of  cattle,  the  Holsteine, 
Ayrshires  and  Devons  should  not  be  omitted.  For  some 
purposes,  and  by  some  of  our  stock-raisers,  these  breeds 
are  considered  equal  to  the  best.  They  all  thrive  well 
in  Tennessee. 


273 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 

Among  the  many  breeders  of  Jersey  cattle  may  be 
mentioned  Maj.  Campbell  Brown,  Spring  Hill,  Tenn.; 
M.  M.  Gardner,  Nashville,  Tenn.;  Thomas  H.  Malone, 
Nashville,  Tenn. ; J.  T.  & W.  S.  Shields,  Bean  Station, 
Tenn.;  W.  Gettys,  Athens,  Tenn.;  W.  B.  Matthews  & 
Son,  Franklin,  Tenn. ; R.  W.  Miller,  Lebanon,  Tenn. ; 
Jordan  Stokes,  Jr.,  Lebanon,  Tenn. ; A.  J.  Wheeler, 
Nashville,  Tenn. ; M.  V.  B.  Exum,  Carroll,  Tenn.,  and 
the  Columbia  Jersey  Breeders  Company,  Columbia, 
Tenn.;  Mr.  E.  D.  Hicks,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  breeder  of 
registered  Devon  cattle  ; T.  M.  Spofford,  Pulaski,  Tenn., 
and  J.  C.  Clark,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  breeders  of  registered 
Holsteine  cattle. 

Hogs. — Perhaps  there  is  no  country  in  the  world  bet- 
ter adapted  to  the  growth  of  swine  than  Tennessee. 
The  number  of  hogs  reported  in  the  State  in  1880  was 
2,158,169,  being  an  increase  in  the  last  ten  years  of  529,- 
479.  While  this  increase  in  the  number  of  hogs  has 
occurred,  there  has  also  been  a marked  improvement 
in  value,  from  the  more  general  diffusion  of  improved 
breeds,  such  as  Berkshires,  Essex,  Sussex,  Yorkshires, 
Poland  Chinas,  Jersey  Reds,  etc.  With  the  more  gen- 
eral cultivation  of  the  grasses  and  clover,  and  a better 
system  of  farming  generally,  there  is  no  reason  why  the 
rearing  of  hogs  for  market  should  not  be  largely  increased 
and  made  more  highly  remunerative  than  at  present. 

Sheep. — Sheep  husbandry  should  be  one  of  the  most 
profitable  branches  of  farming  in  Tennessee.  Adapta- 
tion of  soil  and  climate  have  certainly  placed  it  within 
the  power  of  our  people  to  develop  this  branch  of  indus- 
try to  a very  profitable  extent.  The  number  of  sheep 
in  Tennessee  in  1870  was  876,783  ; in  1880  the  number 
reported  was  only  673,117,  showing  a decrease  of  204,- 
666  in  ten  years.  This  diminution  in  the  number  of 

18 


274  Proceedings  of  the 

sheep  kept  is  doubtless  owing  to  the  fact  that  there  is 
practically  no  legal  protection  for  the  property  of  the 
flock-owner  from  the  ravages  of  vicious  dogs.  Many 
sheep  are  annually  killed  by  these  depredators,  and 
farmers  are  thereby  discouraged  from  this,  which  would 
otherwise  be  one  of  the  most  profitable  forms  of  agricul- 
tural industry.  To  encourage  sheep  husbandry  our 
Legislature  enacted  a law  exempting  fifty  head  of  sheep 
in  the  hands  of  each  head  of  family  from  sale  by  execu- 
tion by  the  sheriff  for  debt,  but  there  is  no  law  protect- 
ing them  from  execution  by  the  remorseless  cur.  A few 
years  ago  the  Legislature  was  induced  by  the  representa- 
tions of  some  of  our  intelligent  farmers  to  pass  a law 
imposing  a tax  on  dogs,  which,  for  the  brief  period  that 
it  remained  on  our  statute  books,  had  the  effect  to  largely 
decrease  the  number  of  dogs  in  the  country.  So  great, 
however,  was  the  opposition  to  the  law  among  the  peo- 
ple that  it  was  repealed  at  the  next  session.  Upon  the 
repeal  of  the  law  the  dogs  again  increased,  while  the 
sheep  decreased.  It  is  gratifying,  however,  to  have 
assurances  that  the  “ sober  second  thought”  is  return- 
ing, and  that,  with  the  growing  desire  among  all  classes 
for  developing  the  resources  of  the  State,  it  will  not  be 
long  until  this  industry  will  receive  all  the  protection 
which  legislation  can  give. 

While  the  number  of  sheep  -in  the  State  has  largely 
decreased,  it  is  probable  that  the  value  of  flocks  is  fully 
equal  to,  if  in  fact  it  does  not  exceed,  the  valuation  ten 
years  ago.  This  is  owing  to  the  propagation  of  the 
more  valuable  breeds  of  this  animal.  So  far  back  as 
1849-50,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mark  R.  Cock- 
rill,  Tennessee  asserted  her  ability  to  compete  with  the 
world  in  the  production  of  the  finest  grades  of  wool, 
having  secured  the  grand  medal  at  the  World’s  Fair  at 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  275 

London.  Since  that  date  her  reputation  in  this  respect 
has  been  fully  sustained.  More  recently  the  long- 
wooled  and  mutton  sheep  have  been  introduced  with 
success,  and  flocks  are  to  be  found  which  rival  the  best 
of  other  sections. 

Poultry . — As  the  population  of  our  cities  increases 
and  facilities  are  given  for  speedy  and  cheap  transporta- 
tion to  the  populous  cities  of  other  States,  the  rearing 
of  poultry  for  their  flesh  and  eggs  is  becoming  a matter 
of  much  interest  and  profit  to  our  people.  Those  who 
pursue  this  business  systematically  find  that  for  the 
small  outlay  of  capital  required,  the  profits  are  liberal. 
Our  favorable  geographical  position  enables  us  to  reap 
the  benefits  of  the  markets  while  our  Northern  neighbors 
are  still  fettered  with  the  frosts  of  winter,  thus  giving  us 
the  advantage  of  the  very  best  markets  with  compara- 
tively little  competition.  All  varieties  of  domestic  fowls 
do  well  in  Tennessee. 

Bees . — Bee  culture  may  be  classed  with  those  small 
industries  which,  for  the  capital  invested,  often  yield 
more  satisfactory  profits  than  some  of  more  pretentious 
character.  Tennessee,  from  the  mildness  of  its  climate 
and  the  great  abundance  and  variety  of  its  honey-pro- 
ducing plants,  is  well  adapted  for  bee-keeping.  Almost 
every  thrifty  farmer  keeps  a few  colonies  of  bees,  look- 
ing only  to  a supply  of  honey  for  domestic  use.  Parties 
who  engage  in  this  business  as  a specialty  find  it  highly 
remunerative.  The  Italian  bee  has  been  introduced  and 
largely  disseminated.  Where  it  has  been  tried  it  is  a 
decided  favorite. 

STATE  POLITY. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  Tennessee  the  powers  of 
the  State  Government  are  distributed  between  three 
co-ordinate  departments,  the  Executive,  Legislative,  and 


276  Proceedings  of  the 

Judicial.  The  chief  Executive  power  is  vested  in  a 
Governor,  chosen  every  two  years  by  the  qualified 
voters  of  the  State.  He  is  assisted  in  the  administra- 
tion of  the  Government  by  a Secretary  of  State,  elected 
by  the  Legislature  every  four  years  ; a Comptroller, 
chosen  by  the  same  body  every  two  years,  and  a Treas- 
urer chosen  for  the  same  term.  The  Governor  appoints 
a Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  and  a Commissioner 
of  Agriculture,  Statistics  and  Mines,  and  Superintendent 
of  Prisons.  The  Governor  also  appoints  a Military 
Staff,  one  of  whom,  the  Adjutant  General,  acts  as  his 
Private  Secretary. 

The  Legislative  power  is  vested  in  the  General  As- 
sembly, consisting  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, the  former  consisting  of  thirty-three,  and  the 
later  of  ninety-nine  members,  who  are  elected  for  two 
years,  and  hold  regular  biennial  sessions. 

The  Judicial  power  is  vested  in  Justices  of  the  Peace 
and  the  Judges  of  the  County,  Circuit,  Criminal,  Chan- 
cery, and  Supreme  Courts.  The  latter  is  composed  of 
five  Judges,  who  hold  their  offices  for  eight  years  and 
who  constitute  the  court  of  highest  resort  in  Tennessee. 
The  Judges  are  all  chosen  by  popular  election.  The 
Sheriffs  and  other  county  officers  are  elected  by  the 
people  for  two  years.  An  Attorney-General  is  also 
elected  for  each  court  having  criminal  jurisdiction,  to 
prosecute  on  behalf  of  the  State  for  crimes  and  misde- 
meanors. Punishment  for  crimes  and  misdemeanors  is 
by  fines  and  imprisonment  in  the  county  jails  and  in  the 
State  prison.  The  punishment  of  death  may  also  be 
inflicted  for  capital  offenses.  The  Governor  has  power 
to  grant  remission  of  fines,  commutation  of  sentence, 
reprieves  and  pardons. 

The  State  Officials  at  present  are  : W.  B.  Bate,  Gov- 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 277 

ernor;  D.  A.  Nunn,  Secretary  of  State;  P.  P.  Pickard, 
Comptroller;  R.  W.  Cantrell,  Adjutant  General  and 
Private  Secretary;  Atha  Thomas,  Treasurer;  Thomas 
H.  Paine,  Superintendent  of  Schools;  A.  J.  McWhirter, 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Statistics,  Mines  and  Im- 
migration ; Judges  of  Supreme  Court — Chief  Justice, 
J.  W.  Deaderick  ; Justices — T.  J.  Freeman,  Peter  Tur- 
ney, W.  F.  Cooperand  W.  J.  McFarland;  Speaker  of 
the  Senate,  Hon.  B.  F.  Alexander;  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  W.  L.  Ledgerwood ; Attor- 
ney-General for  the  State,  B.  J.  Lea. 

PROPERTY  AND  TAXATION. 

Under  the  revenue  laws  of  Tennessee,  all  property 
owned  in  the  State,  excepting  $ 1,000  of  personalty  be- 
longing to  the  heads  of  families,  is  subject  to  taxation 
for  State  and  county  purposes.  The  tax  on  property 
levied  by  the  State  is  forty  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars’ 
worth,  ten  cents  of  which  shall  be  for  school  purposes. 
Merchants  pay  ad  valorem  and  privilege  taxes  amount- 
ing to  seventy  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars’  worth,  ten 
cents  of  which  is  for  free  schools.  Taxes  are  also  levied 
upon  a great  number  of  privileges  and  upon  polls,  the 
poll-tax  being  applied  to  school  purposes.  The  County 
Courts  are  authorized  to  levy  taxes  for  general  county 
purposes  not  to  exceed  the  State  tax. 

The  total  amount  of  property  (exclusive  of  railroads) 
assessed  for  taxation  in  1881  was  $225,289,873,  being 
an  increase  over  the  preceding  year  of  $13,521,435.* 

The  assessed  value  of  railroads  in  the  State  is  about 
$27,000,000,  which,  added  to  the  property  assessed, 
makes  an  aggregate  of  $252, 289, 873. f About  $17,- 

*The  total  amount  of  taxable  property  real,  personal,  and  mixed,  assessed 
for  taxation  in  1883  (exclusive  of  railroads)  was  $222,637,873. 

|The  taxable  property  of  railroads  assessed  in  1883  was  $31,197,200.88. 


2/8 


Proceedings  of  the 

000,000  of  the  railroad  property  is  now  paying  taxes, 
and  the  remainder  will  be  in  a short  time.  In  1880  the 
average  value  of  land  in  the  State  as  assessed  for  tax- 
ation was  six  dollars  per  acre^ 

PUBLIC  ROADS. 

Until  recently  the  system  of  maintaining  public  roads 
in  Tennessee  has  been  very  imperfect.  Recently,  how- 
ever, our  laws  on  this  subject  have  been  radically 
changed  and  much  improved.  Under  our  present  law, 
each  county  is  divided  into  road  districts,  with  three 
Road  Commissioners  for  each  District,  elected  by  the 
County  Court.  The  County  Court  of  each  county  as- 
sesses annually  a road  tax,  which  cannot  be  less  than 
two  nor  more  than  fifteen  cents  on  every  $100  of  taxable 
property  in  the  county,  and  on  privileges  not  exceeding 
one-fourth  the  assessment  for  county  purposes.  It  also 
fixes  the  number  of  days’  work  which  the  road  hands 
may  be  required  to  perform  without  compensation 
during  the  year  upon  public  roads  within  their  re- 
spective districts.  The  road  hands  are  all  male  citizens 
between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  fifty  years,  who  have 
not  been  excused  for  physical  disability.  Overseers  of 
roads  are  appointed  by  the  Commissioners.  A por- 
tion of  the  road  tax  may  be  paid  in  work  at  rates  fixed 
by  law. 

Under  the  operations  of  this  law  our  public  roads 
have  greatly  improved  during  the  last  twelve  months. 

MANUFACTURING. 

Tennessee  possesses  advantages  for  manufacturing 
industries  which  must  soon  give  her  a prominent  posi- 
tion as  a manufacturing  State.  Her  abundance  of  coal, 
iron,  timber,  and  her  superabundant  water  power;  her 


Sou t hern  Immigration  Association.  - 279 

contiguity  to  the  great  cotton  fields  of  the  South,  taken 
in  connection  with  the  salubrity  and  mildness  of  her 
climate  stamp  her  as  a field  well  adapted  for  the  devel- 
opment of  manufacturing  enterprise. 

In  point  of  fact,  notwithstanding  the  unsettled  finan- 
cial policy  of  our  State  has  for  years  past  greatly  re- 
tarded development  in  this  direction,  many  enterprises 
of  great  practical  utility  have  been  inaugurated,  and  by 
their  success  have  demonstrated  that  manufactures  in 
Tennessee  will  pay.* 

So  far  Nashville,  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville  are  the 
principal  manufacturing  points  in  the  State. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Tennessee  enjoys  peculiar  advantages  for  the  higher 
education  of  the  youth  of  both  sexes.  The  following 
universities  are  located  within  her  limits:  Vanderbilt 
University,  Nashville  ; Tennessee  University,  Knoxville  ; 
Wesleyan  University,  Athens;  Cumberland  University, 
Lebanon;  University  of  the  South,  Sewanee;  South- 
western University,  Jackson  ; Fisk  University  (colored), 
Nashville;  all  of  which  maintain  a high  standard  of 
scholarship. 

Besides  these  universities,  all  of  which,  except  -the 
University  of  Tennessee  at  Knoxville,  are  under  the 
care  of  some  one  of  the  religious  denominations  of  the 
country,  there  are  large  numbers  of  colleges,  collegiate 
institutes,  seminaries,  academies  and  high  schools.  The 
University  of  Tennessee  has  an  Agricultural  Depart- 
ment under  the  charge  of  Prof.  Glenn,  which  is  render- 
ing invaluable  service  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the 
State.  In  many  localities  good  private  schools  have 

Three  millions  of  capital  have  been  invested  in  manufacturing  industries 
within  the  past  six  months.  July  I,  1884. 


28o 


Proceedings  of  the 

been  maintained  for  many  years,  and  have  established 
for  themselves  quite  enviable  reputations.* 

Under  the  laws  of  Tennessee,  each  city  and  incorpo- 
rated town  has  authority  to  levy  a tax  for  school  pur- 
poses, and  the  large  majority  of  them  have  availed 
themselves  of  the  privilege  and  established  graded 
schools  of  good  character. 

The  State  has  a well  arranged  system  of  free  schools, 
which  is  gradually  becoming  efficient  for  the  education 
of  the  masses  of  her  children. 

The  total  expenditure  for  free  schools  in  Tennessee 
during  the  past  year  was  $835,629.22.  The  whole  num- 
ber of  free  schools  taught  in  the  State  during  the  year 
was  5,603,  with  an  average  duration  of  four  months  and 
six  days.  The  average  daily  attendance  upon  these 
scnools  was  180,509. 

It  is  confidently  anticipated  that  within  a very  few 
years  the  rapidly  growing  interest  which  is  being  devel- 
oped throughout  the  State  will  give  to  our  free  schools 
all  the  efficiency  which  the  friends  of  popular  education 
can  desire. 

CHURCHES. 

Nearly  all  religious  denominations  known  in  the  United 
States  have  organized  societies  and  able  ministers  in 
Tennessee.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South, 
has  three  annual  conferences,  mostly  in  Tennessee  ; its 
membership  is  very  large.  The  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  has  also  three  annual  conferences.  The  Bap- 
tists, of  different  orders,  are  also  numerous,  and  have 
many  churches  and  ministers.  Presbyterians  of  the  dif- 

*Notably  among  the  many  private  Seminaries  for  young  ladies  may  be  men- 
tioned those  of  Dr.  Ward,  Nashville  (which  has  at  this  time  a larger  number  of 
pupils  than  Vassar  College) ; also  Dr.  Price’s,  Nashville,  and  Mary  Sharpe  Col- 
lege, Winchester. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  281 

ferent  orders,  Episcopalians,  Christians  (Campbellites), 
Catholics,  and  other  denominations  are  numerous.  All 
have  valuable  properties,  and  nearly  all  have  denomina- 
tional schools.  Scarcely  a neighborhood  in  the  State 
but  has  one  or  more  churches  conveniently  located,  and 
all  are  zealous  in  the  Master’s  work. 

BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTIONS. 

The  benevolent  institutions  sustained  by  the  State  are 
the  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  located  near  Nashville  ;*  the 
School  for  the  Blind,  at  Nashville;  and  the  Asylum  for 
the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  located  at  Knoxville.  These  in- 
stitutions are  supported  by  liberal  appropriations  from 
the  treasury  of  the  State,  and  are  placed  under  the  con- 
trol of  competent  and  faithful  officials.  Each  county 
provides  for  its  own  indigent. 

Persons  desiring  information  regarding  lands,  climate,, 
etc.,  of  Tennessee,  will  please  address 

HON.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER, 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture , Etc., 

Nashville,  Tenn. 

* Another  Asylum  for  the  Insane  is  in  course  of  construction  at  Knoxville,, 
Tenn.  Jnly  i,  1884. 


282 


Proceedings  of  the 


1 


TEXAS. 


Persons  desiring  information  regarding  the  lands, 
climate,  etc.,  of  Texas,  will  please  address 

Hon.  W.  C.  WALSH, 

Commissioner  of  Lands , 

Austin,  Texas. 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


283 


VIRGINIA. 


ADDRESS  BY  M.  G.  ELLZEY,  M.D. 


No  State  in  the  Union  rightfully  takes  precedence  of 
Virginia.  It  is  not  an  empty  boast  that  she  is  the 
“Mother  of  States  and  Statesmen.’’  Her  history  is 
glorious  beyond  precedent,  and  without  parallel  among 
the  ancient  commonwealths  of  the  world.  Visited  as 
no  other  State  was  visited  by  the  wide-wasting  destruc- 
tion of  war,  she  came  forth  from  that  fiery  furnace,  seven 
times  heated,  without  so  much  as  the  smell  of  dishonor 
upon  her  robes.  Through  the  calamitous  period  of  re- 
construction, more  disastrous  than  war,  she  preserved 
unsullied  her  honor,  her  integrity,  and  the  traditions  of 
her  ancient  renown.  By  the  power  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, as  set  forth  in  the  fourteenth  amendment  to  the 
constitution,  she  was  compelled  to  repudiate  her  war 
debt  as  a condition  precedent  to  her  return  to  the  Union. 
By  that  same  power  negro  suffrage  was  put  upon  her, 
and  by  that  suffrage  a portion  of  the  ante  bellum  debt 
was  repudiated,  and  the  first,  last  and  only  stain  was 
affixed  upon  her  escutcheon.  The  more  rapid  relative 
increase  in  white  population  is  fast  consigning  the  negro 
vote  to  a hopeless  minority.  While  it  may  continue  for 
a time  to  be  a disturbing  factor  in  local  politics,  it  is 
certain  that  it  has  now  done  its  worst.  An  earnest 
effort  is  being  made  to  educate  these  people,  in  the 
hope  that  they  may  then  come  to  take  a more  intelligent 


284 


Proceedings  of  the 

and  independent  view  of  public  questions,  and  cease  to 
act  en  masse  with  any  particular  political  party,  so  that 
race  questions  may  disappear  from  our  politics. 

PUBLIC  EDUCATION 

is  in  the  meantime  provided  by  a system  of  common 
schools,  the  schools  for  the  two  races  being  separately 
organized,  and  the  educational  fund  being  divided  pro 
rata.  This  system  of  free  schools  is  thoroughly  organ- 
ized and  firmly  supported  in  every  county  in  the  State. 

The  University  of  Virginia,  a school  of  the  first  rank, 
founded  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  is,  except  as  to  its  professional 
schools,  free  to  every  citizen  of  Virginia. 

The  Virginia  Military  Institute  is  also  a State  school, 
there  being  one  free  scholarship  to  each  Senator’s  dis- 
trict in  the  State.  This  institution  furnishes  a most 
thorough  and  complete  scientific  course  of  instruction, 
fitting  young  men  especially  for  civil  and  mining  engi- 
neering, for  practical  chemistry,  and  metallurgy,  for 
teaching,  and  for  general  business  pursuits ; besides 
furnishing  a military  education  and  training  first-class  in 
every  respect,  and  in  no  degree  inferior  to  that  given  at 
the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point. 

The  Virginia  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  is 
a new  school  arising  to  fill  the  educational  want  implied 
by  its  title,  and  working  with  apparent  progress  upon 
the  solution  of  the  great  problem  before  it.  It  is  a free 
State  school.  The  Hampton  Agricultural  and  Normal 
Institute  is  the  colored  agricultural  and  mechanical  col- 
lege, and  is  doing  for  that  race  a valuable  educational 
work.  The  public  school  system  embraces  also  many 
high  schools  and  academies. 

PRIVATE  EDUCATION 

has  also  ample  facilities.  The  head  of  this  system  is 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 285 

the  Washington  and  Lee  University,  a school  of  the 
first  rank,  presided  over  by  a son  of  Gen.  Robert  E. 
Lee,  a gentleman  whose  claim  to  distinction  does  not 
rest  upon  his  father’s  name,  but  upon  his  own  eminent 
abilities  and  worth.  This  school  has  a large  and  in- 
creasing endowment,  and  its  reputation  and  usefulness 
exhibit  a healthy  growth. 

Richmond  College  is  a flourishing  school,  ably  offi- 
cered and  doing  first-class  work.  This  Faculty  contains 
some  of  the  foremost  educators  of  the  State.  Randolph 
Macon  is  a very  valuable  sectarian  college,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  same  may  be 
said  of  Roanoke  College,  under  Lutherian  control. 
Hampden  Sidney  belongs  to  the  Presbyterians.  Emory 
and  Henry  is  a second  Methodist  school.  There  is  a 
long  list  of  high  schools  of  the  first  rank  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  scholars  of  great  reputation  and  expe- 
rience, distributed  all  over  the  State.  Nor  is  the  higher 
education  of  females  by  any  means  neglected  or  lost 
sight  of.  Beginning  with  the  Staunton  Institute,  under 
Mrs.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  the  widow  of  the  late  Gen.  J.  E. 
B.  Stuart,  of  cavalry  fame,  we  could  make  out  a long 
and  distinguished  list  of  names  of  such  schools  for  the 
higher  training  and  intellectual  development  of  young 
ladies.  From  this  rough,  incomplete  outline  of  the  ed- 
ucational system  of  Virginia  it  will  appear  that  the  young 
Virginian  can  be  as  well  and  more  cheaply  educated  at 
home  than  anywhere  abroad. 

THE  SYSTEM  OF  JURISPRUDENCE, 

•criminal  and  civil,  is  simple  and  effective.  County 
Courts,  presided  over  by  the  County  Judge,  sit  monthly 
in  each  county.  The  Circuit  Court  is  held  by  the  Cir- 
cuit Judge  semi-annually  in  each  county.  The  Supreme 


286 


Proceedings  of  the 

Court  of  Appeals  consists  of  five  Judges.  They  sit, 
with  brief  recesses,  the  whole  year.  All  Judges  are 
elected  by  the  Legislature.  The  administration- of  jus- 
tice in  criminal  and  civil  cases  is  as  certain,  prompt,  and 
cheap  as  it  is  anywhere.  Life  and  property  are  conse- 
quently as  safe,  and  social  order  as  firmly  established  as 
in  any  State  in  the  Union.  The  marriage  contract  is 
held  sacred  ; the  trade  of  the  divorce  lawyer  is  unknown, 
and  divorce  is  seldom  applied  for  or  granted.  Seduction 
is  a felony,  and  rape  a capital  crime.  Seldom,  however, 
does  the  ravisher  live  to  be  formally  tried.  Every  Vir- 
ginian desires  it  to  be  known  that  he  will  kill  at  sight 
whatever  human  fiend  assails  by  violence  or  attempts  by 
seduction  the  virtue  of  a female  of  his  family.  Such  is 
the  unwritten  law,  and  manhood’s  voice  proclaims  it 
right. 

RELIGIOUS  FREEDOM 

is  absolute,  and  men  in  matters  of  conscience  are  wholly 
exempt  from  civil  penalties  or  social  tyrannies.  Neither 
is  any  man  who  behaves  himself  decently  proscribed 
because  of  his  political  sentiments  or  affiliations.  He 
who  spends  his  time  in  denouncing  the  institutions  of 
the  State,  in  reviling  religion,  in  blaspheming  God  and 
in  villifying  his  neighbors,  must  not  expect  to  escape 
public  odium  and  social  ostracism. 

THE  GEOGRAPHICAL  POSITION 

and  physical  features  of  Virginia  are  eminently  favorable 
to  a salubrious  air  and  delightful  climate  equally  removed 
from  extremes  of  heat  and  cold.  The  State  is,  in  gen- 
eral terms,  a vast  triangle,  of  which  the  base  is  the 
parallel  36°  30',  which  constitutes  the  southern  boundary 
from  a point  on  the  coast  nearly  under  the  meridian  of 
76°  west  from  Greenwich,  westward  to  the  Cumberland 


Soitthern  Immigration  Association.  287 

mountains,  under  the  83°  meridian.  The  northern  apex 
of  the  triangle  of  which  this  line  is  the  base  is  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  county  of  Frederick,  latitude  390  40', 
longitude  78°  70'.  The  northeasterly  side  of  our  triangle 
is  bounded  by  about  thirty  miles  of  Atlantic  coast,  about 
eighty  miles  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  the  balance  by  the 
Potomac  river.  The  northwesterly  side  is  bounded  by 
the  Alleghany  range.  In  the  extreme  southwest  corner 
four  counties  are  added  to  this  triangle  lying  west  of  the 
Alleghany.  Outside  of  the  eastern  border,  across  the 
bay,  are  the  two  eastern-shore  counties  of  Accomac  and 
Northampton.  A general  north  and  south  line  drawn 
from  Georgetown,  on  the  Potomac,  through  Fredericks- 
burg, Richmond,  Petersburg,  on  to  the  North  Carolina 
line,  cuts  off  to  the  east  the  great  tide-water  section. 
Another  line  drawn  from  Georgetown,  southwesterly, 
through  the  State  parallel  to  the  Blue  Ridge,  cuts  off  to 
the  west,  between  that  line  and  the  mountain,  the  Pied- 
mont section.  The  counties  lying  between  these  two 
lines  and  the  southern  border  of  the  State  constitute  the 
middle  section.  The  great  valley  of  Virginia  lies  be- 
tween the  Blue  Ridge  and  Alleghany  mountains  as  far 
as  the  county  of  Roanoke.  The  valley  counties  south- 
west of  Roanoke,  including  the  four  trans-Alleghany 
counties,  constitute  Southwest  Virginia.  The  four  great 
rivers — Potomac,  Rappahannock,  York  and  James,  take 
their  rise  in  the  mountains,  and  flow  southeast  to  dis- 
charge their  waters  into  Chesapeake  Bay,  pursuing 
nearly  parallel  courses  ; whereas  the  four  rivers  -Notto- 
way, Makenza,  Staunton  and  Dan,  flowing  parallel  to 
the  four  first  named,  cut  the  North  Carolina  line  and 
empty  into  Albemarle  Sound.  The  northwest  end  of 
the  valley  is  chiefly  drained  by  north  and  south  branches 
of  the  Potomac,  and  by  the  Shenandoah.  The  south- 


288  Proceedings  of  the 

west  end  is  drained  by  the  Holston,  and  by  that  eccen- 
tric and  magnificent  stream,  New  river,  which,  taking 
its  rise  in  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina,  flows  north- 
east along  the  western  base  of  Blue  Ridge  to  Montgom- 
ery county,  where,  turning  at  a right  angle  with  its 
former  course,  it  cuts  its  way  straight*  to  the  northwest 
through  an  immense  mass  of  mountain  ranges,  and 
finally  falls  into  the  Ohio  under  the  assumed  name  of 
the  Great  Kanawha.  These  several  rivers,  and  their 
tributaries  above  the  head  of  the  tides,  furnish  in  the 
aggregate  an  almost  incalculable  water  - power,  dis- 
tributed all  over  every  section  of  the  State,  from  tide- 
water level  to  the  western  boundary.  An  enormous 
proportion  of  this  power  is  perennial — never  dry  or 
frozen,  while  comparatively  safe  from  floods.  Take 
James  river  as  an  example.  As  the  rapids  descend  to 
meet  the  tide  across  the  city  front  of  Richmond,  a util- 
ized, or  utilizable,  water-power  of  an  aggregate  horse- 
power of  7,000  to  10,000  is  developed.  On  the  Man- 
chester side  there  is  an  equal  amount.  Within  a mile 
these  rapids  descend  a height  of  eighty-four  feet.  Fol- 
lowing the  river  thence  to  its  far  distant  mountain 
sources,  the  power  developed  at  available  sites  is  sim- 
ply beyond  calculation  from  any  data  at  hand,  but  it  is 
known  to  be  prodigious.  The  Richmond  & Alleghany 
Railroad  hugs  the  banks  of  the  river  from  Richmond  to 
Lexington,  so  that  the  cars  may  switch  off  at  the  doors 
of  any  factories  or  mills  which  may  be  erected  along  this 
route. 

The  cheapness  of  land  and  of  the  water-power ; the 
healthfulness  of  the  climate  ; the  richness  of  the  country 
in  agricultural  and  in  mineral  resources,  taken  together, 
furnish  the  conditions  for  the  successful  development  of 
manufacturing  enterprise  not  surpassed,  if  equal,  upon 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  289 

this  continent.  The  teeming  population  to  which  this 
grand  old  State  can  give  profitable  employment  and 
luxurious  support,  is  not  yet  dreamed  of.  There  is  no 
equal  area  upon  the  continent,  if  in  the  entire  world, 
capable  of  maintaining  so  great  an  industrial  population 
distributed  to  all  the  various  productive  industries  known 
under  heaven. 

EACH  OF  THE  GREAT  SECTIONS 

possesses  its  own  peculiar  attractions  and  advantages. 
The  fisheries  of  tide-water  of  all  sorts,  including  oysters 
and  terrapins,  afford  employment  and  support  to  a very 
large  number  of  families  ; and  the  wild  fowl  and  other 
game  afford  a means  of  livelihood  for  the  professional 
martin  shooter,  as  well  as  sport  and  luxury  for  resident 
gentlemen  of  means,  and  also  an  important  food  supply 
for  the  poor.  Oyster  culture  affords  an  extensive  out- 
look for  intelligent  enterprise,  and  the  oil  and  guano 
fisheries  are  very  important  industries. 

The  superior  advantage  and  cheapness  of  unlimited 
water  transportation,  seldom  impeded  by  ice,  are  appar- 
ent. Some  of  the  alluvial  lands  of  this  section  are  of 
great  fertility,  producing  profitably  an  immense  variety 
of  crops.  The  future  outlook  seems  to  be  in  the  direc- 
tion of  trucking  and  small  fruits  as  the  leading  business, 
but  wheat,  corn,  grass,  cotton  and  shipping  tobacco  are 
all  successfully  grown.  The  peanut  is  a crop  of  great 
importance,  produced  in  larger  quantities  and  of  better 
quality  in  Eastern  Virginia  than  anywhere  else.  The 
section  is  already  world-famous  for  the  excellence  of  its 
bacon,  and  sheep  husbandry,  with  a special  view  to  the 
production  of  early  lambs  for  the  butcher,  holds  out  flat- 
tering prospects  to  enterprise  in  that  direction.  Hay  is 

another  crop  capable  of  being  grown  here  perhaps  more 
19 


290  Proceedings  of  the 

profitably  than  in  any  other  section  of  the  Union.  Timo- 
thy, orchard  grass  and  clover  do  finely,  and  doubtless 
the  tall  oat  grass  will  prove  valuable  when  properly 
tested.  Redtop  ( Agrostis  vulgaris')  is  another  valuable 
indigenous  grass.  Lands  in  this  section  are  marvelously 
cheap.  Marl  beds  of  unknown  extent  are  distributed 
all  over  the  section,  and  there  is  little  doubt  phosphatic 
marl,  and  probably  phosphates  of  important  commercial 
value  also  exist,  which  ought  long  ago  to  have  been  dis- 
covered, and  doubtless  will  be  as  soon  as  competent 
search  is  made. 

The  health  of  this  section  is  often  made  an  objection 
to  it ; nevertheless,  the  rate  of  mortality  here  is  certainly 
lower  than  in  any  other  of  the  grand  divisions  of  the 
State. 

MALARIA 

is  the  bug-bear,  but  the  type  of  disease  is  almost  exclu- 
sively intermittent,  by  no  means  of  an  obstinate  or  malig- 
nant character,  easily  avoided  by  rational  precautions, 
and  still  more  readily  cured  by  medical  treatment, 
Typhoid  fever  is  nearly  unknown,  and  the  acute  inflam- 
matory diseases  are  more  prevalent  in  the  more  elevated 
regions.  Consumption  is  also  less  prevalent  here  than 
elsewhere. 

THE  MIDDLE  COUNTIES 

are  closely  assimilated  to  those  of  tide-water  in  their 
general  characteristics,  and  there  is  really  no  very  good 
reason  for  a separate  description  of  the  two  sections. 

PIEDMONT 

is,  perhaps,  all  told,  the  most  desirable  section  of  the 
State,  considering  its  many  advantages  of  climate  and 
situation,  and  the  very  low  average  price  of  the  lands. 
It  is  probable  that  in  select  localities  of  Piedmont,  Vir- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  291 

ginia,  is  to  be  found  the  choice  apple  producing  country 
of  the  world,  and  the  apple  is  the  queen  of  the  fruits  of 
the  earth.  Furthermore,  it  is  doubtful  if  a better  grape 
and  wine  producing  region  exists  elsewhere  in  any 
country. 

This  section  is  also  the  choice  mutton-sheep  region 
of  the  continent.  The  true  blue-grass  (. Poa  compressa) 
is  the  characteristic  grass  of  the  pastures;  the  water  is 
the  purest  anywhere  found ; the  air  is  favorable  to  the 
highest  vigor  of  which  animal  life  is  capable  ; in  fine,  a 
saddle  of  Southdown  mutton  properly  fattened  on  that 
grass,  in  those  pastures,  properly  butchered  and  well 
cooked,  is  the  finest  specimen  of  human  food  that  ever 
came  upon  a gentleman’s  table.  The  dairy  products  of 
these  same  pastures  may  be  equaled  elsewhere  in  the 
world,  but  cannot  be  surpassed. 

THE  HUMAN  POPULATION 

of  this  section  is  in  all  respects  worthy  of  so  grand  a 
home — cultured,  independent,  chivalrous,  industrious, 
generous.  This  is  a region  of  “fair  women  and  brave 
men.”  In  its  physical  features,  picturesque  and  lovely 
to  an  unusual  degree ; in  climate,  temperate  and  health- 
ful ; in  the  abundance  and  variety  of  its  productions,  un- 
surpassed ; in  all  that  makes  life  desirable  and  home 
what  it  should  be,  there  is  no  place  in  this  world  which 
surpasses  Piedmont,  Virginia — there  are  very  few  which 
come  near  it. 

As  the  numerous  head-water  streams  of  the  great 
Atlantic-flowing  rivers  descend  from  this  grand  plateau, 
many  great  water-powers  are  developed,  with  most 
eligible  and  every  way  desirable  sites,  suitable  for  any 
species  of  manufacture,  and  now  purchasable  at  the 
merest  fraction  of  their  actual  value,  That  extensive, 


292 


Proceedings  0/  the 

varied  and  prosperous  manufacturing  communities  will 
one  day  be  here  located  is  not  doubtful. 

THE  GREAT  VALLEY 

of  Virginia  is  historic  ground.  It  has  witnessed  some 
of  the  grandest  scenes  ever  enacted  upon  the  superbly 
tragic  theatre  of  war.  Upon  her  broad  bosom,  in  the 
midst  of  the  bones  of  heroes  and  statesmen  on  every 
hand,  rest  in  their  eternal  sleep  “Stonewall”  Jackson 
and  Robert  E.  Lee — dust  which  would  render  any  soil 
world  famous  to  the  end  of  time.  This  great  valley  is 
chiefly  a limestone  geological  formation.  It  is  well 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  grass  and  grain.  Its  future 
lies  in  the  direction  of  mixed  husbandry,  with  live  stock 
interests  in  the  lead.  The  southwest  end  of  this  valley, 
constituting  Southwest  Virginia,  is  the  best  grazing  re- 
gion in  America  outside  of  Kentucky.  Agriculturally 
it  is  par  excellence.  A beef  producing  country.  Never- 
theless the  finest  of  the  fine  fancy  tobacco  grows  here. 
But  in  the  development  of  its  timber  and  its  incalcula- 
ble mineral  wealth,  the  future  of  Southwest  Virginia 
opens  a magnificent  vista.  Coal,  iron,  zinc,  lead,  man- 
ganese, salt,  lime,  plaster,  marble,  silver  and  gold  are 
already  profitably  worked  in  many  places. 

In  the  absence  of  complete  and  trustworthy  surveys, 
it  can  only  now  be  said  that  it  is  known  that  the  surface 
of  the  mineral  wealth  has  scarcely  been  broken,  and 
that  its  future  development  must  be  prodigiously  great. 

IMMIGRANTS  AND  CAPITALISTS 

are  invited  to  look  into  the  marvelously  great  induce- 
ments to  be  found  in  the  way  of  homes  and  investments 
in  Virginia.  To  extend  to  them  such  an  invitation  is 
the  purpose  of  this  sketch.  A glance  at  a recent  map 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  293 

will  show  the  railroad  facilities  which  are  constantly 
being  increased,  developed  and  extended.  The  Virginia 
Midland  Road  extends  north  and  south  from  Alexandria, 
via  Warrenton,  Culpepper,  Gordonsville,  Charlottesville, 
Lynchburg,  to  Danville,  where  it  meets  the  North  Car- 
olina system,  communicating  with  all  points  south  and 
southwest.  The  Richmond  & Danville  runs  from  West- 
point  on  the  York  at  Deepwater,  via  Richmond,  south- 
west through  seven  counties  of  the  middle  section  to 
Danville  and  the  south.  The  Richmond  & Peters- 
burg & Weldon  Railroad  runs  south  from  Richmond 
through  Petersburg,  along  the  western  edge  of  the 
tide-water  section  to  Weldon,  North  Carolina,  whence 
it  connects  with  all  points  south.  The  Richmond,  Fred- 
ericksburg & Potomac  runs  from  Richmond  north 
through  Fredericksburg  and  Alexandria  to  Washington 
and  all  points  north.  There  is  a narrow-gauge  road 
from  Fredericksburg  to  Orange  Court  House  on  the 
Virginia  Midland  Road.  The  Shenandoah  Valley  Road 
enters  the  State,  coming  from  Maryland  and  all  points 
north,  near  Berryville,  in  Clarke  county,  and  hugging 
the  banks  of  the  Shenandoah  river  along  the  eastern 
side  of  the  valley,  traverses  the  valley  from  end  to  end 
and  joins  the  Norfolk  & Western  at  Roanoke.  The 
Valley  Railroad,  a dependency  of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio, 
traverses  the  western  border  of  the  valley  near  the  foot 
of  the  Alleghanies,  from  Harper’s  Ferry  to  Lexington. 
The  Richmond  and  Alleghaney  Road  extends  from 
Richmond,  via  Lynchburg,  to  Clifton  Forge  on  the 
Chesapeake  & Ohio.  The  Chesapeake  & Ohio  tra- 
verses the  State  from  east  to  west  from  Newport  News, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  James,  via  Richmond,  Gordonsville, 
Charlottesville,  Staunton,  to  the  Ohio,  where  it  connects 
with  the  Kentucky  system  direct  to  Louisville  and  St. 


294  Proceedings  of  the 

Louis.  The  Norfolk  & Western  Road  traverses  the  State 
from  Norfolk,  via  Petersburg,  Lynchburg,  Roanoke, 
Wytheville,  Abingdon,  to  Bristol,  where  it  connects 
with  the  Tennessee  system  and  all  points  south  and 
west.  These,  with  other  less  important  lines,  make  up 
a railway  system  of  great  extent  and  importance,  which 
exhibits  a continuously  healthy  expansion  with  an  in- 
definite future  growth  before  it. 

It  is  not  possible  to  compress  the  barest  statement  of 
the  most  important  facts  about  a State  like  Virginia  into 
the  limits  of  a sketch  like  the  present,  which  is  merely 
designed  by  the  author,  who  has  no  leisure  to  prepare 
it,  as  our  invitation  to  those  interested  to  examine  the 
facts  for  themselves.  He  is  fully  convinced  that  any 
foreigner  or  northern  capitalist  seeking  a home  and  in- 
vestments safe  and  profitable,  makes  a great  mistake  in 
determining  upon  his  investments  without  looking  into 
the  claims  of  Virginia  upon  his  attention  and  judgment. 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


295 


WEST  VIRGINIA. 


Persons  desiring  information  regarding  the  lands, 
climate,  etc.,  of  West  Virginia,  will  please  address 
Hon.  RANDOLPH  STAINAKER, 

Secretary  of  State , 
Wheeling,  W.  Va. 


296 


Proceedi?igs  of  the 


MINUTES. 


FIRST  DAY. 

Hall  of  Representatives,  State  Capitol, 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  11,  1884. 

Pursuant  to  adjournment  from  Louisville,  Kentucky,  October  14, 
1883,  the  Association  met  in  the  Hall  of  Representatives,  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  March  11,  1884,  at  12:30  p.  m. 

The  Association  was  called  to  order  by  Hon.  A.  J.  McWhirter,  of 
Tennessee,  President.  S.  H.  Nowlin,  of  Arkansas,  Secretary,  and  A. 
J.  Mulkey,  of  Kentucky,  Assistant  Secretary,  occupied  the  Secretary’s 
table. 

Upon  call  of  the  roll  of  States,  the  following  were  represented: 
Alabama,  Arkansas,  Florida,  Georgia,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Missis- 
sippi, Missouri  and  Tennessee. 

A large  number  of  letters  and  telegrams  were  received  from  all  the 
States  comprising  the  territory  of  the  Association,  from  prominent 
officials  and  influential  citizens  endorsing  the  purposes  of  the  Associa- 
tion, and  pledging  hearty  co-operation  in  the  future  work. 

Gen.  W.  H.  Seibring,  of  Florida,  moved  that  a committee  of  seven 
be  appointed  to  draft  a Constitution  and  By-laws  for  the  government 
of  the  Association,  to  report  at  n a.  m.  on  to-morrow,  the  12th, 
whereupon  the  following  committee  was  appointed: 

W.  H.  Seibring,  Florida,  Chairman. 

George  H.  Nichols,  Georgia. 

L.  E.  Brooks,  Alabama. 

Jeremiah  G.  Harris,  Tennessee. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Lindsley,  Tennessee. 

Dr.  T.  B.  Harwell,  Tennessee. 

W.  P.  Morris,  Tennessee. 

No  other  business  appearing,  the  Association  adjourned  to  meet  in 
the  same  hall  on  Wednesday,  the  12th,  at  n o’clock  a.  m. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  297 

SECOND  DAY. 

Hall  of  Representatives,  State  Capitol, 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  12,  1884. 

Pursuant  to  adjournment,  the  Association  met  in  Representive’s 
Hall,  at  the  Capitol,  at  11:30  a.  m.,  President  McWhirter  presiding. 

Proceedings  opened  with  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Leftwich,  after  which 
the  President  introduced  to  the  Association  Hon.  W.  B.  Bate,  Gov- 
ernor of  Tennessee,  who  delivered  the  welcoming  address  in  a most 
eloquent  and  polished  manner,  and  in  behalf  of  Tennessee  not  only 
uttered  words  of  encouragement  and  welcome  to  the  Association,  but 
opened  wide  the  gates  of  Tennessee  to  immigration  from  every  quarter 
of  the  Globe.  His  address  covered  twenty  minutes,  and  was  richly 
enjoyed  by  all  who  listened  to  it. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Gov.  Bate’s  address,  he  introduced  to  the  As- 
sociation Hon.  Thomas  T.  Crittenden,  Governor  of  Missouri,  who 
entertained  the  audience  in  a most  eloquent  and  patriotic  address  of 
twenty  minutes,  pledging  the  great  State  of  Missouri  to  a hearty  co- 
operation in  the  grand  movement  towards  the  development  and  up- 
building of  the  South.  He  came,  as  a citizen  of  Missouri,  to  speak 
for  his  State;  that,  whilst  she  occupies  a middle  ground  in  the  great 
Confederation  of  States,  her  doors  were  open  to  honest  industry  of 
every  character  from  the  new  and  the  old  world. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  address,  the  President  called  upon  a dis- 
tinguished citizen  of  Mississippi,  the  Hon.  C.  E.  Hooker,  who  de- 
lighted the  audience  with  a chaste  and  elegant  address  of  twenty 
minutes. 

The  President  then  delivered  his  address  to  the  Convention,  address- 
ing himself  to  the  character  and  magnitude  of  the  work  before  the 
Association,  and  urging  co-operation  from  the  States,  corporations,  and 
people  of  the  South. 

No  other  business  appearing,  the  Association  adjourned  at  1 p.  m., 
to  assemble  again  at  8 p.  m. 

EVENING  SESSION. 

Meeting  called  to  order  by  President  A.  J.  McWhirter. 

The  Committee  on  Charter  and  By-laws  reported  that  a charter  for 
the  Association  had  been  prepared,  and  was  then  ready  to  receive 
consideration,  which,  on  being  sent  to  the  Secretary’s  desk,  was  read 
in  full. 


298 


Proceedings  of  the 

Gen.  W.  H.  Seibring,  of  Florida,  moved  that  the  charter  as  sub- 
mitted and  read  be  adopted,  which  motion,  meeting  a second,  was 
unanimously  carried. 

State  of  Tennessee,  Charter  of  Incorporation. 

Be  it  known.  That  Wm.  Seibring,  Thomas  Essex,  Wm.  H.  Harris,  A.  J.  Me- 
Whirter,  J.  K.  Mulkey,  Charles  E.  Hooker  and  D.  T.  Dunn,  are  hereby  con- 
stituted a body  politic  and  corporate  by  the  name  and  style  of  “The  Southern 
Immigration  Association  of  America.” 

The  general  powers,  etc.,  of  said  corporation  are  to  sue  and  be  sued  by  the 
corporate  name.  To  have  and  use  a common  seal  which  it  may  alter  at  pleasure  ; 
if  no  common  seal,  then  the  signature  and  the  name  of  the  corporation  by  any 
duly  authorized  officer  shall  be  binding.  To  purchase  and  hold,  or  receive  by 
gift,  in  addition  to  personal  property  owned  by  said  corporation,  any  real  estate 
necessary  for  the  transaction  of  the  corporate  business,  and  also  to  purchase  or 
accept  any  real  estate  in  payment  or  part  payment  of  any  debt  due  the  corpora- 
tion, and  to  sell  realty  for  corporation  purposes.  To  establish  by-laws  and  make 
all  rules  and  regulations  not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  and  the  constitution 
deemed  expedient  for  the  management  of  corporate  affairs,  and  to  appoint  such 
subordinate  officers  and  agents  in  addition  to  the  President  and  Secretary  or 
Treasurer  as  the  business  of  the  corporation  may  require  ; designate  the  name 
of  the  office  and  fix  the  compensation  of  the  officers.  The  following  provisions 
and  restrictions  are  coupled  with  said  grant  of  powers  : A failure  to  elect  officers 
at  the  proper  time  does  not  dissolve  the  corporation,  but  those  in  office  hold 
until  the  election  or  appointment  and  qualification  of  their  successors.  The 
term  of  all  officers  may  be  fixed  by  the  by-laws  of  the  corporation,  the  same, 
however,  not  to  exceed  three  years.  The  corporation  may,  by  by-laws,  make 
regulations  concerning  the  subscription  for,  or  transfer  of  stock ; fix  upon  the 
amount  of  capital  to  be  invested  in  the  enterprise;  the  division  of  the  same  into 
shares ; the  time  required  for  payment  thereof  by  the  subscribers  for  stock ; the 
amount  to  be  called  for  at  any  one  time  ; and,  in  case  of  failure  of  any  stock- 
holder to  pay  the  amount  thus  subscribed  by  him  at  the  time,  and  in  the 
amounts  thus  called,  a right  of  action  shall  exist  in  the  corporation  to  sue  said 
defaulting  stockholder  for  the  same.  The  Board  of  Directors,  which  may  con- 
sist of  five  or  more  members,  at  the  option  of  the  corporation,  to  be  elected 
either  in  person  or  by  proxy,  by  a majority  of  the  votes  cast,  each  share  repre- 
senting one  vote,  shall  keep  a full  and  true  record  of  all  their  proceedings,  and 
an  annual  statement  of  receipts  and  disbursements  shall  be  copied  in  the 
Minutes,  subject  at  all  times  to  the  inspection  of  any  stockholder.  The  books 
of  the  corporation  shall  show  the  original  or  subsequent  stockholders;  their 
respective  interests ; the  amount  which  has  been  paid  on  the  shares  subscribed ; 
the  transfer  of  stock,  by  and  to  whom  made;  also  other  transactions  in  which 
it  is  presumed  a stockholder  or  a creditor  may  have  an  interest.  The  amount 
of  any  unpaid  stock  due  from  a subscriber  to  the  corporation  sh^ll  be  a fund 
for  the  payment  of  any  debts  due  from  the  corporation,  nor  shall  the  transfer  of 
stock  by  any  subscriber  relieve  him  from  payment,  unless  his  transferee  has  paid 
up  all  or  any  of  the  balance  due  on  said  original  subscription. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  ' 299 

By  no  implication  or  construction  shall  the  corporation  be  deemed  to  possess 
any  powers,  except  those  hereby  expressly  given  or  implied  necessarily  from  the 
nature  of  the  business  for  which  the  charter  is  granted,  and  by  no  inference 
whatever  shall  said  corporation  possess  the  power  to  discount  notes  or  bills, 
deal  in  gold  or  silver  coin,  issue  any  evidence  of  debts  as  currency,  buy  and  sell 
any  agricultural  products,  deal  in  merchandise  or  engage  in  any  business  outside 
the  purpose  of  the  charter.  The  right  is  reserved  to  repeal,  annul,  or  modify 
this  charter.  If  it  is  repealed,  or  if  the  amendments  proposed  being  not  merely 
auxiliary,  but  fundamental,  are  rejected  by  a vote  representing  more  than  half 
of  the  stock,  the  corporation  shall  continue  to  exist  for  the  purpose  of  winding 
up  its  affairs,  but  not  to  enter  upon  any  new  business.  If  the  amendments  or 
modifications  being  fundamental  are  accepted  by  the  corporation  as  aforesaid, 
in  a general  meeting  to  be  called  for  that  purpose,  any  minor,  married  woman, 
or  other  person  under  disability,  or  any  stockholder  not  agreeing  to  the  accept- 
ance of  the  modification,  shall  cease  to  be  a stockholder,  and  the  corporation 
shall  be  liable  to  pay  said  withdrawing  stockholder  the  par  value  of  his  stock, 
if  it  is  worth  so  much,  if  not,  then  so  much  as  may  be  the  real  value  in  the 
market  on, the  day  of  the  withdrawal  of  said  stockholder  as  aforesaid.  Provided 
that  the  claims  of  all  creditors  are  to  be  paid  in  preference  to  said  withdrawing 
stockholder. 

A majority  of  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  constitute  a quorum,  and  shall  fill 
all  vacancies  until  the  next  election.  The  first  Board  of  Directors  shall  consist 
of  the  five  or  more  corporators  who  shall  apply  for  and  obtain  the  charter.  The 
said  corporation  shall  have  the  right  to  borrow  money  and  issue  notes  or  bonds 
upon  the  faith  of  the  corporate  property,  and  also  to  execute  a mortgage  or 
mortgages  as  further  security  for  repayment  of  money  thus  borrowed.  The  en- 
couragement of  immigration  by  facilitating  the  negotiation  of  sales  of  real 
estate  to  immigrants  is  the  object  for  which  this  charter  is  granted.  The  said 
company  is  authorized  to  buy  and  sell  real  estate  either  on  commission  or  as 
owners.  To  buy  and  sell  real  estate.  To  purchase  large  tracts  of  land  and 
subdivide  the  same  for  purposes  of  sale,  to  negotiate  loans  on  real  estate  for 
other  persons  or  for  the  corporation,  to  make  contracts  for  furnishing  labor  to 
parties  desiring  the  same,  and  generally  to  do  all  things  as  agent,  acting  between 
buyer  and  seller,  as  may  have  a tendency  to  introduce  labor,  capital  or  popula- 
tion into  the  State,  and  to  sell,  rent  or  exchange  real  estate  on  commission. 

Annually,  during  the  month  of  January,  a statement  of  the  affairs  of  said 
company,  showing  the  amount  of  capital  stock,  the  value  of  the  land  owned  by 
the  company,  the  liabilities  thereof,  and  the  debts  due  the  company,  shall  be 
printed  in  the  newspaper  where  the  principal  office  of  the  company  is  located  ; 
and  for  any  failure,  or  fraudulent  statement  made  by  the  said  Directors,  whereby 
loss  ensues  to  innocent  parties  dealing  with  the  company  upon  the  faith  of  said 
false  statement,  the  Directors  shall  be  individually  liable.  And,  also,  if  said 
company  should  knowingly  practice  any  fraud  or  imposition  in  selling  lands, 
held  or  claimed  by  any  defective  title  purporting  to  be  vested  in  said  company, 
whereby  loss  ensues  to  an  innocent  purchaser,  the  parties  knowingly  and  wilfully 
practicing  said  fraud,  whether  the  same  be  Directors  or  Stockholders,  shall  be  in- 
dividually liable  for  the  damages  suffered  by  said  innocent  purchasers. 


300 


Proceedings  of  the 

We,  the  undersigned,  apply  to  the  State  of  Tennessee,  by  virtue  of  the  laws 
of  the  land,  for  a charter  of  incorporation  for  the  purposes  and  with  the  powers, 
etc.,  declared  in  the  foregoing  instrument. 

Witness  our  hands  this  12th  day  of  March,  1884. 

W.  H.  Seibring,  Florida. 

Thomas  Essex,  Arkansas. 

Wm.  Harris,  Louisiana. 

A.  J.  McWhirter,  Tennessee. 

D.  T.  Dunn,  Georgia. 

J.  K.  Mulkey,  Kentucky. 

Charles  E.  Hooker,  Mississippi. 

Registered  March  14. 

Gen.  W.  H.  Seibring,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  By-laws,  sub- 
mitted a code  of  by-laws  for  the  government  of  the  Association,  which 
was  ordered  read  by  the  Chair. 

Hon.  W.  H.  Harris,  of  Louisiana,  after  the  reading  of  the  by-laws, 
moved  that  they  be  printed  and  a copy  be  furnished  each  member  of 
the  Association  for  consideration  before  adoption,  which  motion,  in 
meeting  a second,  was  carried. 

A motion  was  then  made  to  instruct  the  Chair  to  appoint  Committees 
on  Finance,  Transportation,  Advertising,  and  Resolutions,  which  was 
ruled  out  of  order,  pending  the  adoption  of  the  by-laws. 

Dr.  G.  P.  Northrup,  of  Connecticut,  was  then  introduced  to  the 
Association  by  Dr.  J.  Berrien  Lindsley,  who  addressed  the  audience 
upon  the  importance  of  the  protection  and  cultivation  of  forest  trees 
in  the  United  States. 

Hon.  W.  H.  Harris,  of  Louisiana,  then  delivered  a most  excellent 
address  on  the  importance  and  necessity  of  a Southern  “Castle  Gar- 
den.” 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address,  the  President  introduced  Col. 
Robert  Gates,  Vice-President  for  Tennessee,  who  addressed  the  Con- 
vention for  forty-five  minutes,  in  a most  elegant  and  logical  manner, 
upon  the  subject  of  diversified  farming  and  immigration  from  the 
Northern  States. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  address,  Gen.  W.  H.  Siebring  offered  the 
following  resolution,  which  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  Association,  after  its  adjournment  to-morrow, 
March  13th,  repair  to  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Ex-President  James  K. 
Polk,  to  pay  that  distinguished  lady  its  highest  respects. 

Invitations  from  Vanderbilt  University  and  Ward’s  Seminary  to  visit 
their  institutions,  either  in  a body  or  as  individuals,  were  read  and  ac- 
cepted. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  301 

No  other  business  appearing,  the  Association  adjourned,  at  10:40 
p.  m.,  to  convene  in  the  same  place  at  9 a.  m.  to-morrow. 


THIRD  DAY. 

Hall  of  Representatives,  State  Capitol, 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  13,  1884. 

Meeting  called  to  order  by  the  President.  The  Chair  then  re- 
quested the  Secretary  to  read  the  By-Laws  as  printed,  which  was  ac- 
cordingly done. 

Moved  and  seconded  that  the  By-Laws  be  read  and  adopted  by  sec- 
tions, as  amended  or  altered.  Carried. 

The  By-Laws  were  then  read  seriatim , and,  after  discussion  and 
amendment,  were  adopted. 

Col.  Harris,  of  Louisiana,  moved  that  the  Committee  on  Constitu- 
tion and  By-Laws  be  appointed  a Committee  on  Enrollment,  and  be 
ordered  to  enroll  the  By-Laws  and  present  them  again  to  the  meeting 
for  adoption  as  a whole. 

BY-LAWS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  IMMIGRATION  ASSOCIATION  OF 

AMERICA. 

Section  i.  The  territory  of  this  Association  shall  embrace  the  following 
States,  to-wit : Alabama,  Arkansas,  Florida,  Georgia,  Kentucky,  Louisiana, 

Mississippi,  Missouri,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Vir- 
ginia, West  Virginia. 

Sec.  2.  Object  of  the  Association — To  secure  and  promote  the  co-operation  of 
the  several  mentioned  States  in  sustaining  an  enterprise  for  the  mutual  develop- 
ment of  their  latent  resources ; to  establish  immigrant  homes  at  such  places  as 
the  management  may  deem  necessary;  to  encourage  immigration  to  said  States  ; 
to  gather,  publish  and  distribute  statistics,  maps  and  other  literatnre  upon  the 
agricultural,  mining,  railway,  manufacturing,  educational  and  other  interests  of 
the  South ; to  make  contracts  for  transportation  and  settlement  of  immigrants 
within  said  States ; to  establish  agencies  at  such  places  and  with  such  powers 
and  duties  as  the  Association  may  from  time  to  time  designate. 

Sec.  3.  Capital  Stock — The  capital  stock  of  the  Association  shall  not  be  less 
than  $50,000,  nor  more  than  $500,000,  and  shall  be  divided  into  shares  of  $5.00 
each. 

Sec.  4.  Officers — The  officers  shall  consist  of  a President,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  and  one  Vice-President  for  each  State  embraced  in  the  Association. 

Sec.  5.  Provision  for  Removal  of  Executive  Officers — Any  executive  officer 
the  Executive  Committee.  He  shall  be  paid  such  salary  as  may  be  allowed  by 
the  Directors. 


302  Proceedings  of  the 

may  be  removed,  for  malfeasance  or  neglect  of  duty,  by  a majority  vote  of  the 
directors. 

Sec.  6.  Directors — At  each  annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Associ- 
ation there  shall  be  a Board  of  Directors  elected,  consisting  of  one  member 
for  each  State  comprising  the  Association,  who  shall  serve  for  the  term  of  one 
year,  or  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified  ; and  the  Board  of  Direct- 
ors shall  have  entire  control  of  all  the  business  and  interests  of  the  Association, 
and  only  be  subordinate  to  the  Board  of  Stockholders.  Seven  of  the  Board  of 
Directors  shall  constitute  a quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business.  In  case  of 
any  vacancy  occurring  in  the  Board,  it  shall  be  empowered  to  fill  the  vacancy  ; 
Provided, , hoxvever,  for  the  purpose  of  organization,  that  until  a meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  shall  be  held,  the  following  named  persons  shall  constitute 
the  Executive  Committee,  who  shall  serve  until  their  successors  are  elected,  viz  : 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWhirter,  of  Tennessee;  Hon.  E.  W.  Cole,  of  Tennessee;  Hon. 
Samuel  J.  Keith,  of  Tennessee;  Hon.  Thos.  Essex,  of  Arkansas;  Hon.  W.  H. 
Seibring,  of  Florida. 

Sec.  7.  Executive  Committee — The  Executive  Committee  shall  consist  of  five, 
to  be  selected  by  the  Directory.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee to  meet  at  the  call  of  the  President,  and  consider  all  matters  of  business 
necessary  to  the  interests  of  the  Association,  decide  all  points  of  difference  be- 
tween the  officers  of  the  Association,  and  act  upon  all  questions  of  emergency 
which  may  arise  and  require  prompt  attention,  when  impracticable  to  call  a 
general  meeting  of  the  Directors. 

Sec.  8.  Duties  of  the  President — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  to  pre- 
side at  all  meetings  of  the  Association,  also  the  meetings  of  the  Directors  and 
Executive  Committee ; have  general  supervision  of  all  business  and  officers  of 
the  Association,  and  direct  the  management  of  the- same  in  accordance  with  its 
laws  and  interests,  and  make  a report  of  the  general  work  and  the  condition  of 
the  business  of  the  Association,  at  all  annual  meetings  and  when  called  upon  by 
the  Directors.  The  Vice-President  of  the  State  in  which  the  last  meeting  of  the 
Association  was  held  shall  discharge  all  the  duties  of  the  office  of  President  in 
the  absence  of  the  President. 

Sec.  9.  Duty  of  the  Secretary — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  be 
present  at  all  meetings  of  the  Association  and  Directors  ; to  keep  the  records  of 
the  Association  ; attend  to  correspondence  ; supervise  advertising,  and  distribute 
the  same  under  the  advice  of  the  President.  He  shall  have  for  his  services  an 
annual  salary  of  dollars,  to  be  fixed  by  the  Directory. 

Sec.  10.  Duties  of  the  Treasurer — It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to 
have  charge  of  all  the  finances  and  collateral  property;  keep  an  accurate  record 
of  all  receipts  and  disbursements,  and  make  disbursements  upon  the  order  of 
the  President,  acting  under  orders  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  His  books  and 
records  shall  at  all  times  be  subject  to  examinatipn  by  the  Executive  Committee 
or  any  member  of  the  same.  Fie  shall  make  a quarterly  report  to  the  President 
and  Directors  when  called  upon,  and  an  annual  report  of  the  financial  condi- 
tion of  the  affairs  of  the  Association  at  each  annual  meeting  of  the  Directors. 
The  Treasurer  shall  give  bond  in  such  sum  of  not  less  than  $10,000  as  may  from 
time  to  time  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  such  bond  to  be  approved  by 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


303 


Sec.  11.  Annual  Meetings — The  annual  meetings  of  this  Association  shall  be 
held  at  such  time  and  place  as  may  be  determined  upon  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, who  shall  notify  all  members  of  the  Association  by  publication  of  the 
same  in  the  prominent  papers  of  the  States  composing  the  Association. 

Sec.  12.  Changes  in  By-Laws — These  By-Laws  may  be  altered,  added  to,  or 
repealed  at  any  annual  meeting  of  the  Association,  by  a two-thirds  vote  of  the 
shares  cast  at  said  meeting  ; and  each  share  of  stock  represented  in  person  or  by 
proxy  shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote. 

The  above  is  a true  copy  of  the  By-Laws  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Asso- 
ciation of  America,  as  enacted  by  the  Association  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March 
11-14,  1884.  S.  H.  Nowlin, 

Secretary  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America. 

Hon.  W.  H.  Harris,  of  Louisiana,  made  a motion  that  when  this 
convention  adjourns  it  shall  adjourn  to  meet  in  New  Orleans.  Car- 
ried, Vice-President  L.  E.  Brooks  in  the  chair. 

Col.  Robt.  Gates  moved  that  the  letters  received  and  read  from  the 
various  railroad  officials  of  the  South  be  published  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  Association.  Carried. 

Gen.  Seibring  moved  to  adjourn  in  order-  to  enable  the  Association 
to  pay  its  respects  to  the  widow  of  ex-President  Polk,  as  per  resolu- 
tion adopted  yesterday.  Carried,  and  the  meeting  adjourned  at  12:30 
to  meet  at  2 p.  m. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

Association  met  at  1:30  p.  m.,  pursuant  to  adjournment.  President 
McWhirter  in  the  chair,  and  Secretary  Nowlin  at  the  desk. 

Moved  and  seconded  that  we  now  proceed  to  the  election  of  officers, 
and  that  a committee  be  appointed  to  recommend  suitable  officers  for 
the  ensuing  year.  Carried. 

The  Chair  then  appointed  the  following  gentlemen  to  constitute  that 
committee:  Hon.  C.  E.  Hooker  of  Mississippi,  chairman;  Hon.  W. 
H.  Harris  of  Louisiana,  Hon.  Thos.  Essex  of  Arkansas,  Col.  B.  F. 
Cockrill  of  Tennessee,  Col.  D.  T.  Dunn  of  Georgia,  J.  K.  Mulkey  of 
Kentucky,  Hon.  L.  E.  Brook  of  Alabama,  Gen.  W.  H.  Seibring  of 
Florida,  and  Col.  H.  H.  Newman  of  Georgia,  which  committee  re- 
tired to  carry  out  instructions. 

The  Chair  then  announced  the  Committee  on  Advertising  for  the 
ensuing  year,  to  recommend  a system  of  advertising  and  report  to  the 
President  as  soon  as  practicable : Hon.  Thos.  Essex  of  Arkansas, 
Gen.  W.  H.  Seibring  of  Florida,  and  J.  K.  Mulkey  of  Kentucky. 

No  other  business  appearing,  the  Association  adjourned  to  meet  at  8 p.  m. 


304 


Proceedings  of  ike 


EVENING  SESSION. 

Association  met  pursuant  to  adjournment,  President  McWhirter  pre- 
siding. 

Hon.  Thos.  Essex,  of  Arkansas,  was  introduced,  and  delivered  a 
most  practical  and  logical  address  upon  the  resources  of  Arkansas, 
entertaining  the  audience  for  forty  minutes,  after  which  Gen.  Seibring, 
of  Florida,  came  upon  the  Speaker’s  stand  and  addressed  the  Associ- 
ation upon  the  resources  of  Florida. 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  address  of  Gen.  Seibring,  Hon.  Chas. 
E.  Hooker,  of  Mississippi,  took  the  stand,  and  entertained  the  audi- 
ence with  a most  elegant  address  of  fifty  minutes  upon  the  importance 
of  immigration  to  the  South. 

Col.  D.  T.  Dunn,  of  Georgia,  being  called  upon,  addressed  the 
Association  in  a most  humorous  impromptu  manner  for  thirty  minutes. 

Col.  Geo.  N.  Nichols,  of  Savannah,  Ga. , also  spoke  for  a short  time 
upon  the  advantages  of  Savannah  as  a Southern  entrepot  for  immi- 
grants. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Col.  Nichols’  remarks,  the  Committee  on 
Nominations  reported,  recommending  the  following  names  for  election 
as  officers  for  the  ensuing  year : 

Hon.  A.  J.  McWhirter,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  President. 

S.  H.  Nowlin,  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  Secretary. 

Samuel  J.  Keith,  President  Fourth  National  Bank,  Nashville,  Tenn., 
Treasurer. 

Vice-Presidents — Alabama,  Hon.  Leslie  E.  Brooks,  Mobile;  Arkan- 
sas, Hon.  Thos.  Essex,  Little  Rock;  Florida,  Gen.  W.  H.  Seibring, 
Bronson;  Georgia,  Hon.  H.  S.  Morse,  Brunswick;  Kentucky,  Hon. 
M.  R.  Procter,  Frankfort;  Louisiana,  Hon.  W.  H.  Harris,  New  Or- 
leans; Mississippi,  Hon.'  E.  G.  Wall,  Jackson;  Missouri,  Ex-Gov.  E. 
O.  Stanard,  St.  Louis;  North  Carolina,  Hon.  M.  McGee,  Raleigh; 
South  Carolina,  Hon.  A.  P.  Butler,  Columbia;  Tennessee,  Hon. 
Robt.  Gates,  Jackson;  Texas,  Gen.  J.  B.  Robertson,  Waco;  Virginia, 
Hon.  Robt.  Beverly,  The  Plains;  West  Virginia,  Hon.  A.  W.  Camp- 
bell, Wheeling. 

Directors — Alabama,  John  G.  Cullman,  Cullman;  Arkansas,  Col. 
Logan  H.  Roots,  Little  Rock;  Florida,  Col.  Wm.  D.  Chipley,  Pensa- 
cola; Georgia,  R.  B.  Repherd,  Savannah;  Kentucky,  Gen.  John 
Echolls,  Louisville;  Louisiana,  Maj.  E.  A.  Burke,  New  Orleans;  Mis- 
sissippi, Hon.  C.  E.  Hooker,  Jackson;  Missouri,  Hon.  Andrew 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  305 

McKinley,  St.  Louis;  North  Carolina,  Gov.  Thos.  J.  Jarvis,  Raleigh; 
South  Carolina,  E.  C.  Sell,  Charleston;  Tennessee,  Col.  E.  W.  Cole, 
Nashville;  Texas,  W.  H.  Abrams,  Dallas;  Virginia,  Col.  A.  Pope, 
Roanoke;  West  Virginia,  Hon.  Wm.  A.  Quarrier,  Charleston. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  J.  Berrien  Lindsley,  seconded  by  Mr.  Morris, 
the  report  was  adopted,  and  the  officers,  as  recommended,  declared 
elected  to  serve  such  time  as  prescribed  by  the  charter. 

The  Chair  then  announced  the  following  names  to  serve  upon  the 
Finance  Committee  for  the  ensuing  year:  Col.  E.  W.  Cole,  Nash- 

ville, chairman;  S.  J.  Keith,  Wm.  Duncan,  Thos.  D.  Fite,  A.  S.  Col- 
yar,  Thos.  M.  Steger. 

No  other  business  appearing,  the  Association  adjourned  to  meet  at 
9 a.  m.,  March  14,  at  same  place. 


FOURTH  DAY. 

Hall  of  Representatives,  State  Capitol, 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  14,  1884. 

The  Association  was  called  to  order  by  President  McWhirter.  On 
"account  of  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  and  the  departure  of  many 
members  the  meeting  was  sparsely  attended. 

On  motion  of  Gen.  Seibring  the  meeting  adjourned  to  room  No.  7, 
Maxwell  House,  and  business  of  the  Association  continued. 

Gen.  Seibring,  from  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  reported  the 
following : 

Resolved , That  the  thanks  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association 
of  America  be,  and  are  hereby  tendered  Hon.  Wm.  B.  Bate,  Gov- 
ernor of  Tennessee,  Col.  A.  J.  McWhirter,  and  the  large-hearted 
people  of  Nashville,  for  the  many  marked  acts  of  attention  received 
at  their  hands.  • 

Resolved , That  the  thanks  of  the  Association  are  cordially  tendered 
the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad,  Nashville,  Chattanooga  and  St. 
Louis  Railroad,  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  and  Georgia  Railroad,  Mo 
bile  and  Ohio  Railroad,  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  Memphis  and  Little 
Rock  Railroad,  and  other  railway  and  steamboat  lines,  for  courtesies 
extended  its  members. 

Resolved,  That  the  hearty  thanks  of  this  Association  are  hereby  ten- 
dered the  Nashville  American , Nashville  World,  Nashville  Banner,  and 
20 


3°6 


Proceedings  of  the 

the  other  newspapers  of  the  city  of  Nashville,  for  favors  received  and 
hearty  support  given  the  great  objects  for  which  it  is  laboring. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Association  are  tendered  its  Presi- 
dent, Secretary  and  his  assistant,  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the 
duties  devolving  upon  them,  and  the  very  impartial  treatment  received 
at  their  hands  by  its  members. 

Col.  C.  E.  Hooker,  of  Mississippi,  offered  the  following,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Association  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  General  Government  to  continue  its  appropriations  to  improve 
the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  its  main  tributaries,  from 
the  jetties  at  the  mouth  of  said  river  to  the  highest  point  of  navigation, 
and  that  the  Senators  and  Representatives  from  the  fourteen  States 
embraced  in  this  Association  are  requested  to  present  and  urge  on 
* Congress  this,  the  sense  of  this  Association,  and  that  the  Secretary  of 
this  Association  be  instructed  to  send  an  engrossed  copy  of  this  reso- 
lution to  each  Senator  and  Representative  from  the  fourteen  States 
embraced  in  this  Association. 

Col.  W.  H.  Harris,  of  Louisiana,  offered  the  following,  which  was 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  we  recognize  the  World’s  Industrial  Exposition  and 
Cotton  Centennial  as  an  important  factor  in  Southern  immigration, 
and  that  we  urge  the  people  and  the  Legislatures  of  the  Southern 
States  to  make  such  arrangements  and  secure  such  appropriations  of 
money  as  will  insure  full  representation  of  their  products  and  re- 
sources. 

No  other  business  appearing,  the  Association  adjourned  to  meet  in 
New  Orleans  upon  call  of  the  President. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President. 


S.  H.  Nowlin,  Secretary. 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


307 


EXCERPT 

FROM 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 


Secretary’s  Office, 

Little  Rock,  Ark.,  March  24,  1884. 

At  a meeting  of  the  Evecutive  Committee  of  the  Southern  Immi- 
gration Association  of  America,  held  in  the  city  of  Nashville,  Tenn., 
March  15,  1884,  Gen.  Seibring,  of  Florida,  moved  that  the  Secretary, 
S.  H.  Nowlin,  be  authorized  to  visit  any  city  or  place  in  the  interest 
of  the  Association,  by  and  under  the  direction  of  the  President. 
Carried. 

The  following  matters  of  business  were  then  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  President  for  execution  by  a unanimous  vote  of  tue  Directors 
present: 

Printing  and  issuing  of  stock. 

To  authorize  the  sale  of  stock,  and  under  what  conditions. 

To  fix  the  compensation  of  officers  and  agents. 

To  authorize  the  printing  of  proceedings  and  other  matters. 

To  fix  the  terms  of  officers. 

To  call  a meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  at  some  time  and  place. 

To  call  a meeting  of  the  Finance  Committee  whenever  desired. 


3°8 


Proceedings  of  the 


LETTERS  AND  TELEGRAMS  FROM  DISTIN- 
GUISHED INDIVIDUALS. 


The  following  letters  and  telegrams  from  distinguished 
individuals  were  read,  and  ordered  to  be  enrolled  and 
published  with  the  Proceedings. 

The  officers  of  the  Association  regret  that  the  letter 
from  ex-Senator  Thurman,  of  Ohio,  in  reply  to  an  invi- 
tation to  attend  the  Convention,  has  been  lost  or  mislaid. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  March  7,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — In  answer  to  your  letter  of  the  23d  ult.,  Mr.  Blaine  directs  me  to 
say  that  his  engagements  for  next  week  compel  him  to  decline,  with  regret,  your 
kind  invitation  to  address  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  on  the  12th. 

It  is  proper  to  add  that  your  letter  was  inadvertently  mislaid,  and  an  earlier 
reply  thus  prevented.  Very  respectfully  yours, 

THOS.  H.  SHERMAN,  Private  Secretary. 


White  Hall,  Ky.,  March  1,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — Your  very  kind  letter  of  the  22d  ult.  was  duly  received,  and 
whilst  I was  deliberating  about  coming  among  my  Southern  friends  and  witness- 
ing the  impulse  which  free  and  intelligent  labor  has  infused  into  the  “New 
South,”  I had  an  attack  of  an  old  wound — a concussion  of  the  .spine — which  I 
received  from  a blow  at  Foxtown  many  long  years  ago,  and  which  returns  at 
intervals  to  prostrate  me.  I had  the  honor,  not  long  since,  to  receive  an  invita- 
tion to  address  the  “ Cotton  Planters”  Convention,  at  Little  Rock,  when  again 
ill  fortune  prevented  me  from  going,  and  now  the  same  fate  intervenes. 

It  affords  me  great  pleasure  in  my  declining  years  to  find  that  some  intelli- 
gent, and  I may  venture  to  say  the  most  intelligent,  minds  of  the  South  are  not 
unmindful  of  my  services  in  putting  you  upon  a permanent  and  imperishable 
basis  of  Progress  and  Power. 

Gen.  R.  Toombs,  of  Georgia,  said,  a few  years  ago,  that  he  did  not  want 
aggregations  of  citizens.  But  even  if  he  was  right,  that  the  isolated  state  of 
barbarism  was  more  full  of  human  happiness  than  a dense  population  of  highly 
cultured  rnen,  such  a condition  of  society  cannot  be  maintained  without  subjec- 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 309 

tion  to  the  higher  workers,  for  the  battles  of  modern  supremacy  are  not  fought 
with  the  sword  only,  but  rather  in  all  the  centres  of  the  industrial  arts.  In  a 
few  words,  money  and  not  the  sword  rules  the  world.  Having  more  land  in  the 
single  State  of  Texas  (100,000  square  miles)  than  the  half  of  the  great  Republic 
of  France,  which  has  197,400  square  miles  of  land  only,  we  can  form  some  idea 
of  the  vast  extent  of  the  fifteen  Southern  States  and  their  future.  For  France 
has  about  40,000,000  of  men  and  the  South  10,000,000. 

It  seems  to  me,  then,  that  the  way  for  her  lies  plain  to  all  eyes — using  her 
present  white  and  black  labor,  and  inviting  the  skilled  labor  of  all  the  world. 
Pennsylvania  is  said  to  have  more  coal  and  iron  ores  than  Great  Britain,  and 
Prof.  John  B.  Proctor,  of  the  Kentucky  Geological  Survey,  gives  to  our  State 
more  of  these  useful  minerals  than  Pennsylvania.  And  we  are  but  one  of  the 
fifteen  States  of  the  “New  South.”  I put  these  facts  before  the  public  in  away 
to  reach  the  intellect  in  a more  forcible  form  than  using  mere  figures.  It  is  true 
Texas  has  not  all  the  natural  advantages  of  France,  for  the  great  source  of 
power  in  every  nation  is  in  the  culture  of  the  soil,  and  successful  culture  depends 
upon  due  mixture  of  forests  and  fields.  But  the  whole  South  has  all  the  ad- 
vantages of  France  and  more,  for  she  has  the  cotton  plant,  the  first  staple  of  the 
world,  and  the  South  is  its  favorite  habitat.  During  the  civil  war  the  Russian 
manufacturers,  who  bought  their  cotton  from  England,  had  to  use  some  Ameri- 
can cotton  to  mix  with  the  coarser  and  more  brittle  fibres  of  other  portions  of 
the  world  ; for  nowhere  could  this  better  staple  be  found,  except  to  a very 
limited  extent  in  Egypt,  Asia  Minor  and  South  America.  England  tested  all 
lands,  and  starved  millions  of  people  in  India  in  attempting  to  rival  you,  but  in 
vain.  So  that  you  have  probably  for  all  time  the  monopoly  of  this  great  mate- 
rial for  manufacture.  And  with  your  water  power,  short  winters,  and  cheap 
food,  the  time  is  near  at  hand  when  you  will  be  thus  able  to  give  the  world  the 
material  with  all  the  profits  of  its  structure  in  your  own  homes.  These  views, 
now  just  coming  before  the  Southern  mind,  are  old  with  us  ; and  I therefore 
accept  some  of  the  compliments  which  you  refused  to  extend  to  my  patriotism 
and  statesmanship,  which  are  sufficient  reward  for  noble  natures. 

And  now  I desire  to  say  one  word  upon  forests,  rainfall,  and  moisture  and 
climate.  This  has  been  a study  with  me  for  a quarter  of  a century,  and  I have 
in  season  and  out  of  season  urged  the  subject  of  forestry  upon  the  consideration 
of  my  countrymen.  The  Good  Providence  often  masks  real  good  under  seeming 
evil.  And  so  the  great  Mississippi,  with  its  overflows  and  lagoons,  so  terrible 
to  those  who  reside  upon  its  banks*  is  the  real  .cause,  together  with  the  great 
forests,  which  of  all  the  Union  most  remain  to  the  South,  is  no  doubt  the  grea^ 
foster  mother  of  the  cotton  plant.  In  a state  of  nature  the  earth  remains  nor- 
mal in  its  climate,  unchanged  for  long  eras  at  least ; but  when  the  axe  is  laid  to 
the  trees  then  comes  the  destruction  of  the  homes,  the  exposure  to  the  sun’s 
rays,  drouths,  and  untimely  floods;  so  that  the  soil  marches  into  the  seas,  the 
moisture  is  insufficient  for  plant  growth,  and  nations  perish.  We  know  enough 
since  the  times  of  authentic  history  to  prove  this,  and  I am  clearly  of  the  opinion 
that  all  the  deserts  of  the  earth  follow  but  in  the  wake  of  man’s  destruction  of 
forests.  Nor  is  this  an  Utopian  project,  if  my  premises  be  true,  because,  while 
some  land  must  of  course  be  tilled,  one-eighth  or  one-tenth,  more  or  less,  of  all 


3io 


Proceedings  of  the 

private  lands  ever  should  be  kept  in  woods  for  the  profit  of  the  individual 
owner,  and  the  State,  having  eternal  eminent  domain,  should  force  this  law  for 
the  conservation  of  the  landholder  and  the  highest  public  weal.  The  effects  o^ 
forests  on  the  filling  of  navigable  streams  and  causing  floods  and  drouths  are 
made  more  manifest  all  the  world  over  by  the  increase  of  population  in  conse- 
quence of  peace  and  the  advancing  civilization  ; and  as  this  new  population  uses 
more  forest  trees  in  the  arts  of  agriculture  and  manufacture,  the  effects  of  forests 
are  more  observed  by  the  then  increased  influences. 

But  I grow  tedious.  I have  ventured  to  give  you  a few  ideas  which  I would 
have  enlarged  had  I been  favored  with  an  opportunity  to  address  you  upon  these 
topics.  And  you  are  at  liberty  to  read  this  hasty  and  desultory  letter  in  lieu  of 
a more  formal  address,  which  my  health  will  not  allow.  With  great  respect, 
your  fellow-citizen,  C.  M.  CLAY. 

Jefferson,  Mo.,  March  8,  1884. 

Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER. 

My  Dear  Sir: — When  first  invited  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Southern 
Immigration  Association  at  Nashville,  I declined  because  of  official  business. 
It  is  now  my*  purpose  to  attend,  although  Missouri  is  not,  properly  speaking,  a 
Southern  State,  yet  it  is  so  closely  allied  to  the  South  by  Fts  geographical  posi- 
tion, by  its  water  and  railroad  connections,  by  those  strongest  of  all  ties — blood, 
manners,  customs — I feel  that  this  State  should  co-operate  with,  and  participate 
in  every  movement  whose  object  is  to  build  up  and  rehabilitate  the  South  in  all 
those  elements  so  essential  to  its  greatness.  Already  the  laws  of  trade  have 
infused  a new  life  into  the  West  and  the  South,  and  have  blended  them  more 
deeply  into  one  brotherhood,  which  naturally  gives  each  a deep  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  other  ; and  I predict  that  that  interest  will,  sooner  or  later,  con- 
demn in  strong  words  those  sectional  views  aroused  every  four  years  by  unpatri- 
otic partisans  for  party  ends.  The  past  is  passed ! These  times  demand  broader 
men,  dimmer  sectional  lines,  weaker  recollections  of  the  errors  of  that  past  and 
a more  united  energy  for  the  future.  May  this  meeting  not  only  be  “one  of 
the  most  interesting  of  the  kind  ever  held  in  the  South,”  but  also  the  most  pro- 
ductive of  good.  Very  truly  yours,  THOS.  T.  CRITTENDEN. 


Raleigh,  N.  C.,  March  7,  1884. 
Mr.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — In  answer  to  your  letter  of  the  22d  of  February,  inviting  the 
Governor  to  address  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  on  the  13th  of  March, 
I am  instructed  by  Governor  Jarvis  to  say  that  he  will  be  with  you  if  his  State 
business  does  not  interfere ; but  that  at  present  he  cannot  make  an  engagement 
so  far  ahead.  Thanking  you,  in  behalf  of  the  Governor,  I remain,  very  respect- 
fully, WM.  C.  BLACKMER,  Clerk . 

Columbia,  S.  C.,  February  26,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — Your  communication  of  the  20th  inst.,  inviting  me  to  attend  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America,  to  be  held  in 
Nashville,  March  nth,  12th  and  13th,  has  been  received.  I regret  that  my  offi 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 3 1 1 

cial  duties  will  not  permit  me  to  attend  this  meeting.  I realize  fully  the  impor- 
tance, and  I may  say,  the  absolute  necessity  for  immigration  to  develop  the 
resources  of  the  Southern  States,  and  I shall  be  glad  to  do  anything  in  my  power 
to  promote  the  objects  of  the  Association. 

Hon.  A.  P.  Butler,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  of  this  State,  has  consented, 
at  my  request,  to  attend  the  meeting  if  his  duties  will  permit.  I trust  that  he 
may  be  able  to  be  present  and  represent  South  Carolina  at  the  meeting.  Very 
respectfully,  HUGH  S.  THOMPSON,  Governor. 


Austin,  Texas,  February  25,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Sir : — Yours  of  the  20th  to  hand.  My  official  duties,  I am  afraid,  will  forbid 
my  being  in  Nashville  on  March  nth,  and  succeeding  days,  or  it  would  have 
given  me  considerable  pleasure  to  have  been  present  with  you.  I am  sir,  very 
respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,  JOHN  IRELAND,  Governor. 


Sweet  Water  Home,  near  Florence,  Ala.,  March  1,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir: — I am  pleased  to  acknowledge  receipt  your  highly  valued  favor 
bearing  date  20th  ult.,  inviting  me  to  be  present  at  the  first  convention  of  the 
Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America,  to  be  held  in  the  city  of  Nash- 
ville, March  nth,  12th  and  13th.  Nothing  could  afford  me  more  pleasure  than 
to  be  able  to  respond  favorably  to  your  kind  suggestion,  and  to  be  with  you  on 
the  very  interesting,  and,  I think,  profitable  occasion  to  the  South  as  well  as  to 
the  entire  country.  It  so  happens,  however,  that  the  meeting  proposed  to  be 
held  at  Nashville,  March  nth,  12th  and  13th,  will  be  on  the  same  days  as  an 
important  convention  to  be  held  at  the  city  of  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  on  the  12th 
of  this  month,  for  the  purpose  of  urging  on  Congress  the  propriety  of  making* 
prompt  and  adequate  appropriation  for  the  improvement  of  the  negation  of 
the  Tennessee  river,  and  especially  the  completion  of  the  Muscle  Shoals  Canal — 
a national  enterprise  of  very  great  importance  to  the  country.  Having  inti- 
mated it  as  my  purpose,  and  feeling  it  my  duty  to  be  present  at  the  Chattanooga 
Convention  on  the  12th  inst.,  this  will  necessarily  deprive  me  of  the  pleasure  of 
being  with  you  at  Nashville  at  the  time  designated.  Had  the  important  con- 
vention at  Nashville  been  held  on  any  other  days,  it  would  have  afforded  me 
more  than  ordinary  pleasure  to  attend,  especially  as  I have,  for  sometime, 
desired  to  visit  my  good  friends  of  your  beautiful  and  growing  city  in  a social 
way.  Wishing  you  great  success  in  the  enterprise,  I am,  my  dear  sir,  yours 
truly,  R.  M.  PATTON. 


New  Orleans,  La.,  February  29,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I regret  not  being  able  to  respond  to  your  invitation.  I am  greatly 
obliged  to  you  for  the  kind  words  in  which  it  was  conveyed,  and  the  compliment 
extended,  but  it  will  be  utterly  impossible  for  me  to  leave  this  State  next  month. 
With  many  thanks  and  sincere  wishes  for  your  success,  believe  me,  yours  very 
ruly,  FRANCIS  T.  NICHOLLS. 


312 


Proceedings  of  the 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  February  23,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I am  in  receipt  ot  yours  of  the  20th  inviting  me  to  be  present 
on  the  nth,  12th  and  13th  of  March  at  the  meeting  of  your  Southern  Immigra- 
tion Association,  at  Nashville,  and  note  contents  of  same.  I most  heartily 
approve  the  objects  of  your  Association  as  set  forth  in  your  letter.  There  is 
not  enough  known  of  the  resources  of  the  Southern  States,  and  I think  you  are 
taking ‘the  right  means  of  advertising  them  to  the  world,  and  I wish  you  the 
greatest  success,  but  regret  my  engagements  are  such  as  preclude  me  from  being 
with  you.  I have  the  pleasure  in  subscribing  myself  yours  very  truly, 

E.  O.  STANARD. 


St.  Louis,  Mo.,  February  27,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I am  in  receipt  of  your  esteemed  favor  of  the  25th,  and  note  con- 
tents of  same.  As  stated  to  you  in  my  last,  my  engagements  are  such  that  I am 
apparently  precluded  from  being  with  you  on  the  12th  and  13th  prox.,  but 
should  anything  occur  by  which  it  is  made  possible  for  me  to  be  with  you,  you 
may  rely  upon  my  presence,  but  I regret  to  state  that  it  now  hardly  appears 
probable  for  me  to  be  there.  I have  pleasure  in  remaining  yours  very  truly, 

E.  O.  STANARD. 


United  States  Senate,  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  3,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President  S.  I.  A.  of  America. 

Sir : — I have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  yours  of  the  20th  ult., 
and  to  say  that  I have  postponed  answering  until  this  time  with  the  hope  that  I 
might  be  able  to  so  arrange  my  affairs  here  as  to  be  able  to  attend  the  meeting 
'bf  the  Association,  with  the  objects  and  purposes  of  which  I am  in  full  sympathy, 
but  regret  to  say  that  my  duties  here  will  compel  me  to  deny  myself  the  pleasure 
of  being  present.  Though  I cannot  be  with  you,  I bid  you  God  speed  with  all 
my  heart.  Respectfully,  ISHAM  G.  HARRIS. 

United  States  Senate,  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  8,  1884. 
Mr.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I have  received  your  invitation  to  attend  the  first  meeting  of 
the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America,  to  be  held  in  Nashville  next 
week. 

It  is  not  possible  for  me  to  accept  your  invitation  consistently  with  the  duties 
required  of  me  here.  I can  only  say  that  I wish  your  Association  success  with 
all  my  heart.  Nothing  would  better  promote  the  interests  of  our  section  of 
country  than  the  gradual  and  judicious  introduction  of  immigrants.  I have 
ever  favored  such  a system  as  would  give  us  good  settlers  of  the  right  stock, 
and  in  such  numbers  as  would  accommodate  themselves  to  our  institutions  and 
promote  the  steady  growth  of  our  wealth  and  strength  ; as  would  be  absorbed 
into  our  society,  and  not  in  such  numbers  as  to  change  and  diminish  it.  In  my 
opinion,  many  northern  communities  have  reaped  a temporary  prosperity  from 
a miscellaneous,  pell-mell  influx  of  immigrants  at  the  expense  somewhat  of  a 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  313 

healthy  American  sentiment.  I have  not  time  to  say  more.  With  best  wishes 
for  your  success,  I am  respectfully  yours,  Z.  B.  VANCE. 

United  States  Senate  Chamber,  Washington,  February  28,  1884. 
Mr.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER. 

Dear  Sir : — I am  much  gratified  with  the  honor  of  your  invitation  to  address 
the  Southern  Immigration  Association  on  the  12th  of  March,  and  feel  great  in- 
terest in  the  purposes  of  that  society. 

My  duties  in  the  Senate,  however,  will  compel  my  attendance  on  its  delibera- 
tions, especially  about  the  time  indicated,  when  important  measures  will  be 
under  consideration.  Thanking  you  for  your  courteous  invitation,  I a very 
truly  yours,  JOHN  T.  MORGAN. 

United  States  Senate,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  25,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Sir : — I have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  polite  invitation 
to  attend  the  first  meeting  of  your  Association. 

I regret  that  a pressure  of  public  business  at  this  time  will  compel  me  to  de- 
cline what  would  otherwise  be  a public  duty  as  well  as  a pleasure.  Very  re- 
spectfully, * S.  B.  MAXEY,  U.  S.  S. 

United  States  Senate,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  26,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER. 

My  Dear  Sir : — Yours  with  enclosure  received.  I regret  very  much  that  it 
will  be  impossible  for  me  to  attend  the  meeting  at  Nashville  in  March  next.  I 
have  engagements  here  which  require  my  presence  during  all  of  that  month, 
and  their  nature  is  such  that  I cannot  avoid  or  postpone  them.  With  sincere 
thanks  for  your  kind  invitation,  I am,  very  truly,  etc.,  G.  G.  VEST. 


Senate  Chamber,  Washington,  February  28,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc. 

Dear  Sir : — It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  accept  your  kind  invitation 
and  attend  the  first  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of 
America  in  your  beautiful  city  March  11,  12  and  13,  1884. 

I regret  that  official  duties  demand  my  presence  here  at  that  time. 

Wishing  the  Association  abundant  success,  I have  the  honor  to  be  your 
obedient  servant,  F.  M.  COCKRELL. 

United  States  Senate,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  25,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I am  obliged  for  the  invitation  you  convey  to  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Southern  Immigration  Society,  and  regret  that  I shall  be  unable  to  em- 
brace so  interesting  an  occasion. 

With  earnest  wishes  for  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  I am  yours  truly, 

MAHONE. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  28,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.  ^ 

Sir : — I have  the  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  invitation  so 


3 i 4 Proceedings  of  the 

kindly  sent  me  requesting  my  presence  at  the  approaching  session  of  the 
Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America,  and  at  the  same  time  must  proffe 
my  sincere  regrets  that  the  nature  of  my  official  engagements  deprives  me  of 
the  honor  I should  esteem  it  to  take  part  in  person  in  your  most  laudable  enter- 
prise for  the  good  of  Tennessee  and  her  sister  States  of  the  South. 

With  yourself  I think  that,  while  we  should  exert  ourselves  to  secure  as  great 
a portion  as  possible  of  the  immigration  from  foreign  shores  which  daily  pours 
into  our  hospitable  Republic,  we  should  not  be  neglectful  of  those  of  our  own 
tongue  and  nationality,  but  of  a different  section,  who  desire  a milder  climate 
and  a soil  more  fertile  than  they  have  at  home.  Nature  supplies  the  induce- 
ments in  abundance,  and  we  should  be  prompt  to  advertise  them  throughout 
our  own  country  as  well  as  in  other  lands. 

Permit  me  to  congratulate  you  on  the  great  measure  of  success  which  has 
attended  your  administration  of  the  responsible  office  you  fill  with  so  much 
honor  to  yourself,  and  to  thank  you  again  for  the  opportunity  afforded  me  to 
express  my  humble  but  hearty  and  unstinted  commendation  of  your  earnest  and 
fruitful  efforts  in  behalf  of  our  State  and  section.  Respectfully, 

A.  H.  PETTIBONE. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  3,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Commissioner,  etc. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I have  yours  of  the  20th  ult.,  inviting  me  to  attend  first 
meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America  March  nth  and 
days  following.  Accept  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  invitation,  and  the  cordial 
terms  in  which  it  is  conveyed. 

I wish  much  I could  be  with  you,  but  I fear  my  duties  here  will  make  it  im- 
possible. Your  objects  meet  my  most  hearty  concurrence,  especially  in  that 
your  efforts  were  not  limited  to  the  encouragement  of  emigration  from  the  Old 
World.  What  our  dear  South  needs  most  now  is  a large  influx  of  honest, 
earnest,  enterprising  and  industrious  people,  whether  from  our  own  Northern 
States  or  from  abroad.  We  have  the  land  and  the  climate — we  lack  people.  A 
journey  through  the  thickly  settled  portions  of  the  Northern  States,  where  their 
lands  are  held  at  $50,  $75,  and  $100  per  acre,  and  a careful  examination  of  the 
soil  and  surroundings,  will  convince  a thoughtful  man  that  density  of  population 
constitutes  the  chief  difference  in  their  condition  and  ours.  I have  always 
maintained  that  our  soil,  on  the  average,  is  fully  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  theirs^ 
while  our  climate  is  mostly  superior.  What,  then,  is  the  matter?  Why  do  we 
not  prosper  more?  Why  is  there  so  little  demand  for  our  lands?  Simply,  in 
my  opinion,  want  of  population.  You  will  see  from  this  how  heartily  I must 
sympathize  with  your  grand  enterprise,  and  if  I can,  or  when  I can,  I will 
surely  be  with  you,  giving  heart,  and  hand,  and  voice  in  furtherance  of  your 
glorious  purpose  to  build  up  and  to  habitate  our  bounteous  Southland. 

Very  respectfully  and  truly,  H.  S.  VAN  EATON. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  26,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTEll,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir: — I write  in  acknowledgement  of  your  courteous  and  valued  re- 
quest that  1 will  attend  the  first  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Associa- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  3 1 5 

tion  of  America,  to  be  held  in  the  city  of  Nashville,  March  n,  12  and  13,  1884. 
I would  gladly  contribute  my  humble  influence,  both  personal  and  political, 
to  further  the  movement  to  which  you  refer,  but  regret  extremely  to  be  obliged 
to  say  that,  owing  to  my  duties  as  a member  of  Congress,  in  constant  attendance 
upon  the  present  session  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  it  will  be  impossible 
for  me  to  be  present  at  Nashville  as  you  suggest,  without  endangering,  if  not 
sacrificing,  the  important  interests  with  which  it  happens  me  to  be  entrusted. 

Accept,  dear  sir,  my  best  wishes  for  the  entire  success  of  the  Southern  Im- 
migration Association,  and  believe  me,  with  great  esteem  and  regard,  respect- 
fully, CARLETON  HUNT. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  7,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc. 

Dear  Sir : — When  I received  your  courteous  and  urgent  request  to  be  present 
at  the  meeting  of  next  week  at  Nashville,  I hoped  to  attend,  but  pressing  duties 
will  prevent.  But  I trust  that  the  enterprise  undertaken  by  the  Association  will 
be  placed  upon  such  a basis  as  will  ensure  substantial  results,  for  I cannot  think 
any  undertaking  can  accomplish  more  for  our  common  good  than  an  earnest, 
co-operative  effort  on  our  part  to  induce  and  encourage  immigration.  It  solves 
several  economic,  social  and  political  problems  at  once,  anticipating  and  super- 
seding the  labor  and  vicissitudes  of  years. 

I console  my  disappointment  that  I cannot  meet  with  you  with  the  reflection 
that  while  I could  add  but  little  of  suggestion  to  the  well-advised  plans  of  those 
who  have  given  this  movement  closer  study  and  attention,  my  absence  will  not 
deprive  me  of  the  privilege  of  contributing  my  willing  assistence  and  zealous 
co-operation  in  carrying  out  and  putting  into  execution  the  programme  which 
will  result  from  the  deliberations  of  the  members  and  guests  of  the  Association. 
It  will  always  be  regarded  by  me  as  a privilege  to  be  able  to  further  your  success 
by  every  means  in  my  power. 

With  thanks  for  your  courteous  invitation,  I am,  sir,  very  truly  yours, 

SAMUEL  DIBBLE. 


House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  2,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Commissioner  of  Bureau  of  Agriculture,  Statistics, 

Mines  and  Immigration,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I beg  to  acknowledge  the  invitation  so  heartily  extended  me 
to  be  present  at  the  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of 
America,  to  be  held  in  the  city  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  11,  12  and  13,  1884. 

I am  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the  object  which  the  aforesaid  meeting  is 
intended  to  foster  and  advance,  and  but  for  the  pressing  duties  which  will 
occupy  my  attention  in  Congress  during  the  time  set  apart  for  the  meeting,  I 
should  be  pleased  to  attend.  One  of  the  greatest  present  needs  of  the  Southern 
States  is  immigration — the  immigration  and  settlement  among  us  of  intelligent 
people  who  will  aid  in  the  development  of  the  great  natural  resources  of  our 
section,  and  the  advancement  of  our  people  in  industrial  enterprise.  I trust 
the  meeting  may  prove  a complete  success.  I am  yours  truly, 

N.  C.  BLANCHARD. 


3 1 6 Proceedings  of  the 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  26,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President  Southern  Immigration  Association. 

Dear  Sir : — I have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  yours  of  20th  inst., 
inviting  me  to  be  present  at  the  first  meeting  of  your  Association,  to  be  held  at 
Nashville,  March  nth,  12th  and  13th  next.  It  would  afford  me  great  pleasure 
if  I could  accept  your  kind  invitation,  but  my  duties  here  will  prevent  me.  I 
am  deeply  sensible  of  the  importance  of  capital  and  population  to  the  South. 
More  labor  and  more  capital  mean  more  schools  and  better  and  higher  civiliza- 
tion, and  I hail  every  well-organized  effort  in  that  direction  as  a bright  omen  for 
the  future.  With  the  warmest  wishes  for  the  success  of  the  patriotic  enterprise 
in  which  you  are  engaged,  I have  the  honor  to  be  very  respectfully  yours, 

H.  A.  HERBERT. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  28,  1884. 
Mr.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER. 

Sir: — Your  favor  dated  20th  inst.  is  received,  and  while  I have  not  the  time 
to  make  any  extended  reply,  permit  me  to  say  that  I heartily  sympathize  with 
any  movement  having  for  its  object  the  building  up  and  development  of  our 
beloved,  but  neglected  country.  Other  duties  will  most  likely  forbid  my  attend- 
ing your  meeting,  but  you,  have  my  sincerest  good  wishes  in  the  objects  you  pro- 
pose. With  great  respect,  I.  K.  JONES. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  5,  1884. 
Mr.  S.  H.  NOWLIN,  Secretary  Southern  Immig’n  Ass’n,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  an  invitation  to 
be  present  at  the  meeting  of  your  Association  at  Nashville,  from  the  nth  to  the 
13th  inst.  My  Congressional  duties  make  it  impossible  for  me  to  be  with  you, 
but  I recognize  the  very  great  importance  of  your  work,  and  beg  you  to  accept 
my  best  wishes  for  success.  With  personal  regards,  I am  very  truly  yours, 

C.  R.  BRECKINRIDGE. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  3,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq. 

Dear  Sir : — I regret  extremely  that  my  public  duties  will  prevent  my  attend- 
ance at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America. 
I certainly  am  heartily  in  sympathy  with  the  movement,  and  think  it  is  about 
time  for  an  effort  to  be  made  to  divert  the  stream  of  emigration  from  the  arid 
plains  of  the  far  West  to  the  fertile  valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  rich  fields 
of  the  South.  Yours  respectfully,  JOHN  .J.  O’NEILL. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  26,  1884. 
SOUTHERN  IMMIGRATION  ASSOCIATION,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Your  favor  of  February  20th  received.  I regret  that  my  duties  in  Washington 
will  prevent  my  attendance  at  your  meeting  to  be  held  in  Nashville  on  the  nth, 
1 2th  and  13th  of  March.  I concur  most  heartily  with  the  objects  of  your  Asso- 
ciation as  developed  by  your  letter.  To  build  up  the  South,  to  place  her,  as 
she  ought  to  be,  in  the  forefront  of  progress  and  development,  is  my  greatest 
desire,  and  to  aid  in  these  matters  is  my  highest  aim.  I trust  your  meeting  may 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


3i7 


be  successful,  and  that  the  great  aims  of  the  South  may  be  accomplished.  Yours 
truly,  J.  F.  CLAY. 

House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  29,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — Please  accept  my  thanks  for  your  invitation  to  attend  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America,  to  be  held  in  your  city 
on  March  nth,  12th  and  13th,  1884.  While  in  accord  with  the  purposes  of  your 
meeting,  and  while  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be  present  and  participate 
in  the  proceedings  of  your  meeting,  yet  my  duties  in  Congress  will  deprive  me 
of  that  privilege.  With  assurances  of  the  highest  consideration,  I am,  in  haste, 
very  truly,  WM.  R.  COX. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  10,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I regret  exceedingly  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  attend 
your  meeting  on  the^ith,  12th  and  13th  inst.,  at  Nashville.  I received  your 
kind  and  partial  invitation,  which  was  forwarded  to  me  at  Houston,  Texas,  last 
Monday.  I was  so  desirous  to  accept  and  be  present  on  the  occasion,  and  give 
whatever  countenance  and  encouragement  I could  to  an  enterprise  which  chal- 
lenges my  best  wishes,  that  I immediately  replied  to  you  that  I would  be  pres- 
ent. Since  that  time,  business  engagements  which  I had  overlooked,  as  well  as 
new  ones  which  have  intervened,  render  it  peculiarly  impossible  to  be  absent 
from  this  city.  If  the  meeting  were  a few  days  later,  I could  attend  it.  But 
there  are  matters  of  very  great  importance  connected  with  my  engagements  here 
that  I cannot  postpone;  and  to  neglect  them  might  involve  serious  loss  to  those 
I represent. 

I need  not  say  to  you  that  I am  in  full  sympathy  with  what  I understand  to  be 
the  objects  of  your  Association.  I believe  the  purposes  and  objects,  as  I have 
seen  them  stated  by  yourself  in  a very  able  address  delivered  by  you  at  Vicks- 
burg, can  and  should  be  accomplished.  There  is  no  reason  why  entrepots  for 
immigrants  should  not  be  established  on  the  Southern  Atlantic  sea-board  and  on 
the  Gulf  Coast.  I have  seen  and  felt,  for  a long  time,  the  embarrassment  in 
securing  trans-Atlantic  immigration  through  the  port  of  New  York.  The  tend- 
ency at  the  latter  place  has  been,  for  a number  of  years — and  all  influences  have 
been  invoked  to  that  end — to  induce  foreigners  who  are  landed  at  Castle  Garden 
to  go  West  and  Northwest,  and  that  country  has  been  very  largely  occupied  by 
this  class  of  population  ; and  it,  in  a great  measure,  owes  its  development  to 
them.  Much  of  this  population  is  very  desirable,  and  there  is  no  reason  why 
the  States  representing  your  Association  should  not  claim,  as  they  certainly 
deserve,  both  because  of  soil,  climate  and  all  other  conditions  sought  by  immi- 
grants, more  than  an  equal  share  of  this  character  of  population. 

I am  pleased  to  notice,  also,  that  you  propose  to  induce  immigration  from  the 
more  rigorous  regions  of  the  United  States  to  our  milder  latitudes.  This  is 
entirely  practicable.  All  the  breadstuff's  necessary  for  consumption  in  the  South 
should  be  produced  there;  and  to  accomplish  this  result  it  is  unnecessary  to 
diminish  the  production  of  either  cotton,  sugar,  or  rice.  But  the  importation 
of  labor  skilled  in  the  culture  of  cereals  is  entirely  practicable,  and  can  be  best 


Proceedings  of  the 


318 

accomplished  under  combined  influences,  such  as  are  foreshadowed  in  the  organi- 
zation of  which  you  are  President. 

You  are  kind  enough  to  state  that  I was  expected  to  addressThe  Association 
upon  the  relations  of  railroads  to  immigration.  I suppose  it  is  a proposition 
that  will  not  be  denied  by  any  well-informed  person,  that  the  railroads  have 
been  the  chief  factors  in  promoting  immigration  to  the  West  and  the  Northwest 
particularly.  The  truth  is,  that  the  vast  region  on  this  side  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers  owes  its  large  population,  and  its  high  degree  of  prosperity, 
more  to  the  construction  and  operation  of  railroads,  and  the  influences  the  rail- 
roads have  exerted  in  behalf  of  immigration,  than  to  all  other  causes  combiner!. 
I regret  I have  not  the  time  or  opportunity  to  group  together  the  startling  statis- 
tics on  this  subject,  commencing  practically  with  the  construction  of  the  Illinois 
Central,  which  was  the  pioneer,  so  to  speak,  in  the  country  west  of  the  State  of 
Ohio.  It  is,  however,  a subject  exhaustless,  almost,  yet  requiring  time  and 
patience  in  the  collecting  of  statistics,  to  show  the  comparatively  rapid  growth 
of  this  great  Western  country  with  the  older  States  of  the^East.  But  the  propo- 
sition is  susceptible  of  conclusive  proof,  that  the  rapid  growth  of  the  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  has  been  due  almost  entirely  to  the  con- 
struction of  railroads,  and  to  the  influence  of  railway  owners  and  railway  man- 
agers, in  inducing  population  to  seek  and  occupy  that  vast,  and  until  very  recently, 
unsettled  territory.  The  vital  and  industrial  statistics  of  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri 
and  Kansas,  as  well  as  Texas,  show  a growth  in  population,  and  increase  in 
wealth,  that  stand  without  a parallel  in  the  history  of  the  world.  And  it  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that  if  railway  lines  had  not  been  constructed  within  the  limits 
referred  to,  those  regions  would  have  been  comparatively  unpeopled  and  unculti- 
vated to-day. 

I hope,  on  some  future  occasion,  I may  have  the  pleasure  of  discussing  this 
subject  at  length.  Please  assure  the  Association  of  which  you  are  the  worthy 
President,  that  I fully  sympathize  with  you,  and  am  ready  to  contribute  in  any 
way  I can  to  the  success  of  the  organization.  I have  the  honor  to  be,  most 
respectfully,  your  obedient  servant  and  friend,  JOHN  C.  BROWN. 


Clarksville,  Tenn.,  March  10,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I have  indulged  the  hope  until  to-day  that  I would  be  able  to 
attend  the  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  at  Nashville  to- 
morrow, but  I am  still  suffering  so  much  with  my  foot  and  leg  as  to  forbid  the 
attempt.  I cannot  let  the  occasion  pass  without  assuring  you  of  my  deep  sym- 
pathy with  the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  my  earnest  wish  that  the  important 
movement  may  receive  such  an  impetus  from  the  meeting  at  Nashville  as  shall 
make  it  a grand  and  magnificent  success.  When  I look  over  the  South  to-day 
and  reflect  on  what  she  has  lost  and  suffered,  I can  scarcely  realize  the  marvelous 
rapidity  with  which  she  has  recovered  from  her  wounds,  and  the  manhood  that 
has  enabled  her  to  stagger  to  her  feet  again  under  the  load  that  oppressed  her. 
No  people  of  ancient  or  modern  times  ever  displayed  greater  recuperative  en- 
ergy under  so  many  adverse  and  depressing  circumstances.  It  was  a very  gen- 
erally received  opinion  before  and  during  our  late  unfortunate  civil  war,  that 


3T9 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 

while  the  people  of  the  South  possessed  the  courage  and  dash  necessary  to  the 
achievement  of  brilliant  results,  they  were  wanting  in  the  patience  and  fortitude 
necessary  to  sustain  a prolonged  or  protracted  struggle,  and  that  in  fixedness  of 
purposes  and  power  of  endurance,  the  Northern  people  were  greatly  their 
superiors.  Without  undertaking  to  institute  any  comparisons  as  to  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  people  of  the  two  sections,  I may  be  pardoned  for  saying  that 
if  it  be  a fact  that  the  people  of  the  South  are  deficient  in  the  qualities  sug- 
gested, its  illustration  must  be  sought  elsewhere  than  in  the  history  of  the  late 
struggle.  And  after  the  struggle  ended  and  the  smoke  disappeared  from  the 
battle-fields,  what  people  were  ever  called  upon  to  look  out  upon  a gloomier 
prospect  or  to  wrestle  with  a harder  fate  ? Property  amounting  to  millions 
destroyed  in  a day  or  an  hour,  their  whole  system  of  labor  entirely  revolution- 
ized, their  social  system  shaken  to  its  foundations,  called  upon  to  meet  a state  of 
affairs  that  ran  .counter  to  the  education  and  prejudices  of  a lifetime,  no  people 
were  ever  called  upon  to  face  a more  unwelcome  or  forbidding  condition  of 
affairs  than  that  which  sternly  confronted  the  people  of  the  South  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  How  they  have  met  the  situation,  overcome  its  difficulties  and 
enconntered  its  dangers  and  solved  its  complicated  problems,  will  appear  upon 
the  pages  of  their  future  history  as  witnesses  of  their  worth,  and  as  monuments 
of  their  manhood. 

Not  only  has  their  character  as  a people  been  thus  misapprehended  and  mis- 
represented, but  the  nature  of  their  soil  and  climate  and  resources  has  been  also 
the  subject  of  misapprehension  and  misrepresentation.  But  light  is  beginning 
to  dawn  at  last.  Our  people  are  beginning  to  be  better  understood,  and  the 
advantages  of  our  soil  and  climate  and  resources  to  be  appreciated.  The  capa- 
bilities of  our  soil,  the  superiority  of  our  climate,  and  the  extent  of  our  re- 
sources, who  can  foretell?  No  one.  When  the  dead  capital  that  sleeps  in  our 
untunnelled  mountains  and  uncultivated  fields  shall  yield  their  supplies  to  the 
power  of  capital  and  the  hand  of  industry,  a result  will  be  produced  beyond  the 
power  of  present  computation.  All  that  is  needed  is  to  turn  on  the  light  and 
let  the  world  see  what  is  contained  within  our  limits.  Let  Castle  Gardens  be 
established  at  Norfolk  and  New  Orleans,  or  other  suitable  Southern  ports,  and 
the  skill  and  muscle  of  the  Old  World  that  seek  remuneration  upon  our  shores 
find  that  here  in  our  Southern  land  is  a field  for  their  operation  which  they  can 
find  nowhere  else,  and  our  mines  will  give  up  their  wealth  and  our  unrivaled 
soil  and  climate  yield  results  of  which  the  most  enthusiastic  have  barely  dreamed. 
I sincerely  trust  that  the  Legislature  of  every  Southern  State  will  second  with  a 
ready  and  willing  hand  the  efforts  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  to 
acquaint  the  world  with  the  advantages  of  our  section.  Accept  my  congratula- 
tions on  the  prominent  stand  you  have  taken  in  this  noble  work,  and  rest  assured 
that  nothing  but  a positive  inability  to  do  so  prevents  my  being  present  on  the 
occasion  of  your  meeting  and  adding  my  feeble  voice  in  promotion  of  the  objects 
you  have  in  view.  Very  Respectfully,  JOHN  F.  HOUSE. 

Ocala,  Fla.,  March  i,  1884. 

Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  in- 


320 


Proceedings  of  the 

viting  me  to  attend  the  first  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association 
at  Nashville  on  the  nth,  12th  and  13th  of  the  current  month. 

Heartily  appreciating,  as  I do,  the  purposes  and  objects  of  your  organization, 
it  would  afford  me  more  than  ordinary  pleasure  to  be  present  on  the  occasion 
referred  to,  but  at  that  time  shall  be  attending  our  spring  courts,  and  my  duty 
to  clients  who  have  already  engaged  my  services  will  not  allow  me  to  be 
absent. 

I have  long  since  recognized  the  importance  of  giving  encouragement  and 
of  affording  facilities  to  Southern  immigration  by  organized  effort , and  am  re- 
joiced to  know  that  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  has  entered  so  vig- 
orously upon  this  important  work.  The  Southern  States,  rich  as  they  are  in  all 
the  elements  of  material  wealth,  only  need  adequate  means  of  development  to 
secure  to  them  unsurpassed  prosperity.  Generous  (I  had  almost  said  prodigal } 
nature  has  bestowed  on  the  Southern  States  the  greatest  variety  of  soil,  climate 
and  production,  and  all  that  is  now  needed  for  their  development  is  brain,  brawn 
and  capital.  How  these  are  to  be  most  speedily  and  most  certainly  secured  is  a 
question  to  which  I hope  and  believe  your  organization  will  soon  be  able  to 
afford  a satisfactory  solution. 

There  is  one  feature  in  your  plan  which  commands  the  hearty  approval  of  my 
judgment,  accords  most  fully  with  all  my  feelings  and  sympathies;  that  is,  that 
it  not  only  encourages  emigration  from  the  Old  World,  but  also  from  the  New 
England,  the  Northern  and  Nortwestern  States.  From  these  we  shall  not  only 
obtain  energy  and  enterprise,  money  and  muscle,  but  also  a homogenious  popu- 
lation, which  will  be  “bone  of  our  bone  and  flesh  of  our  flesh,”  and  which  will 
at  the  same  time  most  ^ertainly,  under  the  influence  of  natural  causes,  lead  to  a 
perfect  restoration  of  brotherhood  between  all  the  sections  of  our  great  and 
growing  country.  I therefore  bid  you  God  speed  in  the  important  work  you 
have  undertaken,  and  beg  to  inscribe  myself  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  J.  FINLEY. 


Raleigh,  N.  C.,  April  23,  1884. 

Maj.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc. 

Dear  Sir : — My  reply  to  your  letter  has  been  delayed  in  the  hope  that  I might 
be  able  to  contribute  to  your  proposed  publication,  but  the  duties  of  my  office 
have  left  me  no  leisure  for  anything  else.  I sincerely  regret  the  non-compliance, 
though  involuntary,  with  your  request.  I am  very  sure,  however,  that  nothing 
1 could  do  could  add  any  assurance  of  the  success  to  the  enterprise  inaugurated 
and  so  wisely  planned  by  you.  Success,  in  my  judgment,  is  certain,  as  soon  as 
your  organization  is  complete. 

Entertaining  a high  sense  of  the  honor  done  me  in  assigning  me  a part  in  your 
Association,  I beg  to  assure  you  that  I will  make  it  my  aim  to  attend  the  meet- 
ings of  the  Association,  and  give  my  best  efforts  to  promote  the  great  object  it 
was  formed  to  accomplish. 

Gov.  Jarvis  instructs  me  so  say  he  is  in  entire  sympathy  with  your  patriotic 
undertaking,  and  will  cordially  co-operate  with  you.  Respectfully, 

M . M cGE H E E,  Commissioner. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  * 321 

New  Orleans,  March  15,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I regretted  very  much  that  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  be 
with  you  at  the  annual  meeting,  but  it  was  simply  out  of  the  question,  owing  to 
the  condition  of  my  work  here.  We  were  just  getting  the  construction  under 
headway,  and  I was  very  busily  engaged  in  organizing  the  different  departments 
of  the  Exposition. 

You  have  my  sincerest  sympathy  in  your  work,  and  if  I can  be  of  any  service 
to  you  in  any  way,  I trust  you  will  always  command  me.  Very  truly  yours, 

E.  A.  BURKE,  Director  General. 


Lexington,  Ky.,  March  9,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Colonel : — I have  delayed  answering  in  hopes  I might  be  able  to 
accept  the  invitation,  and  show  by  my  presence  my  cordial  good  wishes  for  the 
success  of  your  great  enterprise,  and  my  appreciation  of  the  compliment  of  the 
invitation  extended  to  me.  But  an  important  case  in  which  I am  engaged  has 
been  set  for  trial  on  Tuesday,  the  nth,  and  it  will  probably  occupy  two  full 
days,  and  this  Tenders  my  absence  from  home  impossible.  I sincerely  regret 
that  I am  thus  compelled  to  forego  a visit  to  Nashville — of  meeting  friends  who 
are  dear  to  me,  and  of  listening  to  the  addresses  of  distinguished  men  on  sub- 
jects in  which  I take  profound  interest.  You  know  that  in  every  movement 
affecting  the  progress  of  Tennessee  and  the  South,  I am  more  than  anxious  to 
do  whatever  lies  in  my  power  to  render  it  successful. 

I hope  your  meeting  will  be  equal  to  your  just  expectations,  and  will  result 
in  awakening  a greater  and  wider  interest  in  the  vital  topics  selected  for  discus- 
sion, and  to  you  personally  I feel  that  a debt  of  gratitude  is  owing  for  the  intel- 
ligent and  enthusiastic  leadership  you  have  exhibited  in  this  movement.  With 
sincere  esteem,  your  friend,  WM.  C.  P.  BRECKINRIDGE. 


Lynchburg,  Va.,  February  25,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President  Southern  Immigration  Association. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I have  just  returned  home  after  several  weeks’  absence,  and 
find  here  your  esteemed  favor  of  the  20th  inst.,  inviting  me  to  deliver  an  ad- 
dress at  the  first  meeting  of  your  Association,  on  March  nth,  1884,  and  I beg 
leave  to  thank  you  sincerely  for  the  honor  extended  me.  It  would  afford  me 
great  pleasure  to  accede  to  your  wishes,  but  at  the  present  time  my  engagements 
are  so  numerous  and  pressing  as  to  deny  me  the  opportunity  of  undertaking 
additional  tasks,  however  agreeable.  The  objects  you  have  in  view  commend 
themselves  to  the  good  will  of  all  good  citizens,  and  I would  be  gratified  if  I 
were  able  to  re-enforce  my  own  good  wishes  with  deeds  in  your  behalf.  Accept 
my  sincere  thanks,  wfith  regret,  and  believe  me,  most  truly  yours, 

JOHN  W.  DANIEL. 

Norfolk,  Va.,  February  25,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Commissioner. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  favor  of  the  22d  inst.  has  been  received.  I regret  very 

21 


322 


Proceedings  of  the 

much  that  circumstances  beyond  my  control  will  prevent  my  acceptance  of  your 
kind  invitation.  I have  important  professional  engagements  at  the  time  indi- 
cated for  your  meeting,  and  I feel  that  it  would  not  be  proper  to  neglect  them. 
Thanking  you  for  the  kind  terms  in  which  you  have  conveyed  the  invitation, 
and  with  my  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  I am,  yours  very  truly, 

JOHN  GOODE. 


The  Plains,  Va.,  March  7,  1884.. 

Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President  Southern  Immigration  Association. 

My  Dear  Sir : — Your  very  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  meeting  of 
your  Association  on  the  nth  inst.,  has  been  duly  received.  I have  delayed 
answering  it,  sincerely  hoping  to  be  able  to  attend.  But  I have  been  almost 
continuously  in  Washington  since  I saw  you  there,  trying  to  expedite  and 
insure  the  passage  of  our  three  agricultural  bills,  to-wit : the  Cabinet  Office, 
the  Pleuro-Pneumonia  Bill,  and  last,  but  most  important,  the  Signal  Service 
Bill  extended  to  agriculture.  We  shall  be  very  fortunate  if  we  get  two  or  the 
three  passed,  and  such  is  the  indifference  there  to  the  interests  of  agriculture 
that  I fear  one  of  the  three  is  as  much  as  we  will  get.  I am  to  go  before  the 
Agricultural  Committee  of  the  House  on  the  nth  in  behalf  of  the  Signal  Ser- 
vice Bill,  hence  the  impossibility  of  my  being  with  you.  But  you  have  my 
heart,  my  whole  heart,  in  this  cause  that  promises  so  much  to  our  Southland, 
and  to  our  whole  country,  and  your  Association  is  pursuing  the  right  course, 
because  I know  it  is  only  necessary  to  bring  this  fair  land  that  has  been  obscured 
heretofore  by  the  shades  of  African  darkness  to  the  bright  vision  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  race  to  make  it  the  most  prosperous  land  under  the  sun.  When  our 
Great  Creator  made  this  wonderful  world  He  kissed  this  fair  land  of  ours  and 
blessed  it  with  a most  salubrious  clime,  and  implanted  within  its  bosom  every- 
thing necessary  to  the  most  comfortable  sustenance  of  man,  and  it  has  been 
settled  with  a race  of  freemen  (white)  that  are  not  equaled  on  the  habitable 
globe.  I was  educated  to  believe  that  slavery  is  an  institution  ordained  by  God, 
and  the  Bible,  the  Word  of  God,  will  thus  teach,  and  doubtless  it  does  suit  for 
some  lands,  yet  I believe  (though  I was  a large  slave  owner)  it  was  a curse  to 
our  fair  land.  It  has  been  said  that  our  enervating  Southern  climate  will  never 
be  densely  populated  ; but  our  Southland  is  about  the  same  parallel  with  France, 
Germany  and  Italy  in  Europe,  and  Pekin  in  China,  the  most  densely  populated 
countries  on  the  globe.  While  Norway,  Sweden  and  Russia,  in  high  latitudes, 
whose  governments  antidate  ours  several  centuries,  are  to-day  sparcely  populated. 
In  a climate  where  a man  can  work  out  of  doors  every  month  in  the  year,  and 
not  like  the  bear  of  Russia  or  our  own  North  and  Northwestern  States,  hibernate 
five  months  out  of  the  twelve,  the  labor  of  men,  in  whatever  avocation,  must 
pay  and  produce  wealth.  Why  send  the  proceeds  of  our  products  to  the  North- 
west to  purchase  food  supplies  when  our  country  similarly  cultivated  will  produce 
more  food  per  acre  than  the  Northwest?  Why  send  to  the  North  to  purchase 
our  manufactured  goods,  wearing  apparel,  agricultural  implements,  and  railroad 
supplies  when  we  have  all  the  raw  material  here,  cotton,  wood,  iron  and  wool, 
of  which  to  manufacture  all  our  wants.  I believe  with  ensilage  and  other  seed 
meal  there  is  no  country  so  much  the  home  of  the  sheep  as  our  own  Southland. 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 323 

No,  bring  the  North  and  Northwest  to  us  and  hold  out  open  arms  to  them  in- 
stead of  going  to  or  sending  the  product  of  soil  to  them.  We  want  the?n  among 
us,  and  my  word  for  it,  if  they  will  come  they  will  never  regret  the  move.  Then 
the  offal  of  all  the  products  of  our  soil  will  be  left  at  home  to  restore  its  fertility ; 
but  continue  to  ship  all  the  products  of  our  soil  away,  and  it  is  only  an  arith- 
metical calculation,  and  a very  short  one,  how  soon  it  will  be  reduced  to  utter 
sterility.  Our  Northwestern  friends  may  think  they  have  an  inexhaustible 
virgin  soil.  I am  old  enough  to  recollect  when  Ohio  thought  so,  but  how  now 
with  Ohio,  and  even  Illinois  ? Rely  upon  it,  when  you  ship  away  all  the 
product  of  the  soil,  whether  vegetable,  in  the  cereals,  or  cotton  or  wood,  and 
mineral  in  the  way  of  iron  or  coal,  to  be  manufactured  abroad,  you  will  destroy 
the  productive  power  of  any  country  on  the  habitable  globe,  and  sterility  and 
poverty  must  follow.  I would  encourage  particularly  the  manufacturing  immi- 
grant from  the  North  and  the  diversified  agricultural  immigrant  from  the  North- 
west, who  as  foreign  immigrants,  have  been  schooled  in  the  nurseries  of  those 
rigorous  climes,  rather  than  the  raw  immigrant  from  the  Old  World.  Yet  we  want 
both,  we  want  all,  have  room  for  all,  and  we  will  give  them  a hospitable  greeting. 

Please  excuse  this  hurried  letter,  as  I hear  the  train  coming  on  which  I must 
go  to  Richmond.  Very  truly  yours,  ROBERT  BEVERLEY, 

President  National  Farmers'  Congress. 

Staunton,  Va.,  March  10,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I am  just  home  from  a ten  days’  absence,  and  find  yours  of  Febru. 
ary  26th  and  telegram.  I wired  you  yesterday  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  be 
with  you  to-morrow.  I greatly  regret  that  your  letter  came  to  me  so  late,  as  I 
could  not  arrange  my  business  to  leave  at  once,  as  it  would  have  required  me  to 
do  to  be  in  time  for  the  meeting.  I am  deeply  interested  in  the  objects  of  the 
Association,  and  will  do  all  in  my  power  to  aid  it.  Hope  at  the  next  meeting  I 
can  be  on  hand  to  contribute  my  mite.  With  thanks  for  the  invitation,  I am 
yours  most  cordially,  JED.  HOTCHKISS. 

Please  send  me  accounts  of  proceedings. 

Savannah,  Ga.,  February  27,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir:— Your  esteemed  favor  of  22d  inst.  at  hand.  I regret  to  say  that  it 
will  be  impossible  for  me  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Association  in  March  ; 
and,  therefore,  I cannot  accept  your  very  courteous  invitation  to  speak  upon  the 
subject  named. 

I recognize  the  importance  of  encouraging  an  intelligent  and  industrious  class 
of  immigrants,  who,  while  appreciating  the  blessings  of  our  Government,  will 
bend  their  energies  to  the  advancement  of  our  prosperity,  and  unite  most  heartily 
in  the  purpose  of  your  Association.  With  many  thanks  for  the  courtesy  extended, 
yours  very  truly,  R.  FALLIGANT. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  8,  1884. 

Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I am  in  receipt  of  your  letter,  with  accompanying  documents. 


324 


Proceedings  of  the 

of  the  20th  ult.  A serious  and  protracted  illness  has  prevented  my  attention  to 
business  affairs ; indeed,  this  is  the  first  letter  I have  attempted  to  write  for 
many  weeks.  I cannot  forbear,  however,  to  make  some  response,  imperfect 
although  it  be,  and  to  express  the  earnest  sympathy  I feel  in  a cause  which  has, 
for  some  years,  commanded  my  time  and  attention. 

The  movement  you  have  inaugurated,  embracing  the  South  and  Southwest, 
must,  from  its  very  extent,  be  attended  with  much  embarrassment  at  the  outset, 
and  a brave  resolve,  and  much  earnest  and  persistent  labor,  will  alone  crown  the 
enterprise  with  final  success. 

The  expositions  already  held  at  Atlanta  and  Louisville  have  borne  good  fruit, 
and  that  to  be  held  at  New  Orleans  will  further  illustrate  the  progress,  resources 
and  capabilites  of  the  almost  boundless  region  embraced  in  the  plans  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

The  tide  of  immigration  has  been,  and  still  is,  to  the  Northwest;  because  it 
has  been  promoted  by  the  very  means  which  your  Association  now  proposes  to 
employ  for  the  development  of  that  region  which  presents  all  of  the  allurements 
and  advantages  of  the  former,  and  untold  artractions  in  climate,  soil,  timber  and 
water,  which,  if  understood  by  the  immigrant,  would  have  attracted  immigration 
to  the  more  favored  South  and  Southwest.  The  efforts  made  by  corporations 
and  States  of  the  South  have  been  feeble  and  sporadic.  Your  Association  prom- 
ises more  aggressive  and  persistent  effort.  To  make  it  effective,  arrangements 
must  be  made  with  the  foreign  immigrant  at  his  home,  and  the  advantages  of 
the  South  clearly  made  manifest,  and  the  exact  means,  cost  and  routes  of  direct 
access  to  the  South  pointed  out,  so  as  to  be  understood  by  the  most  simple- 
minded. 

Missouri  has  been  traversed  by  untold  thousands  of  the  most  desirable  immi- 
grants, who  would,  doubtless,  have  remained  with  us  if  they  had  had  the  fainti 
est  conception  of  the  superior  advantages  of  our  State ; but  these  advantages 
were  not  only  unknown,  but  the  State  was  misrepresented  and  reviled,  and  now 
many  who  have  located  elsewhere  are  seeking  homes  here.  Missouri,  for  three 
and  a half  years,  made  some  effort  to  attract  population,  but  furnished  inade- 
quate means.  Yet  the  result  proved  that  imperfect  as  were  the  appropriations, 
the  State  gained  from  immigration  alone  more  than  100,000  population  per 
annum  during  that  time.  The  value  of  farming  lands  was  greatly  increased, 
and  farm  industries  and  manufactures  sprung  up  in  every  section  of  the  Slate. 

As  important  as  the  effort  to  attract  immigrants. from  beyond  the  seas  may  be 
esteemed,  I humbly  suggest  that  the  South  will  find  the  true  source  of  its  increase 
of  population  from  that  portion  of  our  own  country  lying  west  of  New  York, 
including  the  more  recently  occupied  States  and  Territories.  This  region  con- 
tains a hardy  and  appreciative  population,  who  may  be  readily  impressed  with 
the  substantial  advantages  of  the  South — the  difference  in  climate  alone  will 
allure  many,  and  induce  them  to  give  ear  to  the  just  claims  of  the  Southern 
States.  It  will  not  require  much  money  or  labor  to  present  the  subject  fully 
and  fairly  in  that  quarter,  and  if  well  directed  will  be,  I believe,  attended  with 
prompt  and  unexpected  results.  Let  all  Southern  men  visiting  the  great  North- 
west for  business  or  recreation  be  encouraged  to  act  in  behalf  of  the  South,  and 
let  such  as  are  willing  to  act  in  that  behalf  be  furnished  with  some  printed  mat- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  325 

ter  for  distribution.  I am  convinced  that  the  Northwest,  sooner  or  later,  will 
populate  the  Southern  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  river.  The  annual  produc- 
tion of  the  cereals  will  exhaust  their  lands,  and  following  the  examples  of  all  of 
the  past  races  of  mankind,  the  Northern  tribes  will  overrun  and  occupy  the 
more  fertile  lands  under  a more  genial  sky.  In  the  meantime,  over-production 
of  the  cereals,  not  only  here,  but  in  India  and  Russia,  may  leave  the  Northwest 
without  a market  for  its  products,  and  in  that  event  the  Southwest  will  be 
invaded  with  a horde  of  its  most  desirable  and  enterprising  population.  Let 
these  people  know  what  you  have  to  offer,  and  you  will  soon  be  called  on  to  pro- 
vide homes  for  skilled  husbandmen,  including  great  numbers  of  Americanized 
foreigners.  Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

Andrew  mckinley. 

Goliad,  Goliad  County,  Texas,  March  9,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  &c.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — Your  letter  of  February  20th  (together  with  the  pamphlet 
containing  your  very  able  address  on  the  important  subject  of  Southern  Immi- 
gration delivered  at  Vicksburg  in  November  last)  reached  me  here  yesterday, 
being  forwarded  to  me  from  Waco,  and  I use  my  first  leisure  time  to  respond. 
Nothing  would  afford  me  more  pleasure  than  to  meet  with  the  Association  at  its 
first  meeting  at  Nashville,  but  the  short  notice  I have,  together  with  a press  of 
other  and  previous  engagements,  will  prevent  my  meeting  with  you  there.  Fully 
appreciating  the  vital  importance  of  the  movement  to  the  prosperity  of  our 
Southern  land,  it  will  afford  me  a real  pleasure  to  do  all  in  my  power  to  advance 
it.  With  but  little  (if  any)  over  one-third  of  the  resources  of  our  Southern 
States  developed,  and  these  vast  resources  comparatively  “a  sealed  book”  to 
the  outside  world,  it  seems  strange  that  there  should  be  indisposition,  if  not 
opposition,  among  our  own  people  to  taking  the  proper  steps  towards  making 
these  advantages  known  to  the  members  of  industrious  and  thrifty  people  who 
are  annually  seeking  new  homes  for  themselves  and  families.  The  legislation 
in  some  of  the  States  being  repressive,  if  not  prohibitory,  on  the  subject,  this 
State  of  things  can  only  be  corrected  by  an  intelligent,  active  agitation  of  the 
matter  by  bringing  it  before  the  people,  who  only  need  to  be  brought  to  a full 
understanding  of  its  importance  before  moving  with  energy  and  wisdom  to 
secure  the  benefits  it  offers  them.  Such  an  important  and  active  agency  I hope 
and  believe  the  Southern  Immigration  Association,  in  which  Tennessee  has  the 
true  statesmanship  to  lead,  and  you  are  worthily  representing,  will  be.  A sug- 
gestion presents  itself  to  me,  which  I submit  for  thought,  viz. : Are  we  not 
making  too  great  a distinction  (in  our  efforts  to  promote  immigration)  in  favor 
of  money  ? That  is,  are  we  not  making  a discrimination  between  capital  in 
money  and  capital  in  muscle — capital  in  actual  bona  fide  citizenship  and  capital 
in  money  invested  in  our  several  localities  by  non-residents  ? What  would  be 
the  difference  in  wealth,  in  all  the  elements  that  constitute  true  prosperity  and 
greatness  to  a State  or  community  in  the  acquisition  of  one  thousand  good, 
industrious  families,  or  the  investment  of  a million  dollars  in  such  State  or 
community  by  non-residents?  There  will  be  but  one  answer  to  this  proposition 
by  all  political  economists,  viz  : That  the  gain  in  good  citizens  is  a thousand 


326 


Proceedings  of  the 

fold  the  greater.  Please  tender  the  Association  my  regrets  at  not  being  able  to 
attend  your  meeting,  with  my  earnest  co-operation  in  effecting  the  object  aimed 
at.  Thanking  you  for  the  kind  invitation,  and  with  my  best  wishes  for  your 
personal  health  and  prosperity,  I am,  very  respectfully,  your  friend  and  obedient 
servant,  J.  B.  ROBERTSON. 

Grenada,  Miss.,  March  7,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I find  it  will  be  out  of  my  power  to  avail  myself  of  your  polite 
invitation  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of 
America,  to  be  held  in  Nashville  on  the  nth,  12th  and  13th  inst.  “The  Re- 
sources of  Mississippi,”  the  subject  on  which  you  desire  me  to  deliver  an  address, 
is  one  on  which  much  has  been  written  of  late,  but  there  remains  much  yet  to 
be  told  ; and  if  I could  make  it  convenient,  I would  be  pleased  to  take  advan- 
tage of  so  favorable  an  opportunity  to  say  something  of  the  productions,  soil  and 
climate  of  my  State.  I regret  that  I cannot  do  so,  especially  in  view  of  the  wish 
you  express  that  I should  in  your  very  cordial  communication.  I wish  you  the 
greatest  success  in  your  enterprise,  and  thank  you  for  your  kindness  and  cour- 
tesy. Very  truly,  E.  C.  WALTHAN. 

Huntsville,  Ala.,  March  8,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I had  fully  intended  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immi- 
gration Association  of  America  in  your  city,  but  I am  unexpectedly  called  to 
Washington  City  on  important  business,  which  cannot  be  postponed.  The 
object  you  have  in  view  is  of  vast  importance  to  the  South,  and,  indeed,  to  the 
whole  country,  and  should  elicit  the  active  co-operation  of  every  patriotic  citi- 
zen. With  great  respect,  yours  very  truly,  L.  P.  WALKER. 

Pass  Christian,  Miss.,  March  1,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  Commissioner  Immigration,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir  :• — I am  in  receipt  of  your  favor  of  the  22d  ult.,  inviting  me  to  be 
present  and  participate  in  your  Convention  of  the  13th.  It  would  scarcely  be 
possible  for  me,  in  the  limited  time,  to  do  justice  to  the  subject  assigned  me, 
being  away  from  access  to  documents  that  should  be  consulted  for  such  an 
address ; and,  in  addition,  I have  not  arranged  to  go  South  that  early  in  the 
spring.  Wishing  every  success  to  your  Convention,  and  thanking  you  for  the 
honor  of  your  invitation,  I am  very  truly  yours,  A.  W.  CAMPBELL, 

of  Wheeling,  West  Virginia. 

New  York  Hotel,  N.  Y.,  March  9,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — Your  letter  of  the  4th  enclosing  a pass  to  Nashville  did  not 
reach  me  until  a few  minutes  ago.  I hasten  to  express  to  you  my  high  appre- 
ciation of  your  courteous  attention  and  my  sincere  regret  that  it  will  be  impossi- 
ble for  me  to  attend  the  Convention.  I have  watched  with  much  interest  the 
steps  you  have  taken,  and  had  determined  to  join  you  this  week  to  grasp  your 
hand  and  wish  you  “godspeed,”  but  was  unexpectedly  called  here. 


32  7 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 

You  are  engaged  in  a great  and  noble  work.  Every  intelligent  Southern  man 
must  feel  a deep  interest  in  your  success.  It  will  give  an  impetus  to  the  growing 
value  of  every  species  of  property  in  our  section,  and  you  should  succeed.  The 
field  is  large,  the  times  are  propitious,  public  sentiment  must  support  you,  and 
the  States  should  come  cordially  to  your  aid.  With  renewed  thanks  for  your 
kindness,  I remain,  with  the  highest  regards,  very  truly  yours, 

PAT.  CALHOUN. 

of  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Cincinnati,  New  Orleans  & Texas  Pacific  Railway, 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  February  22,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I beg  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  circular  under  date  of  the 
20th  inst.,  and  to  advise  you  that  the  same  has  been  forwarded  to  Mr.  E.  P. 
Wilson,  our  General  Passenger  Agent,  in  this  city,  for  his  consideration  and 
action.  Duties  connected  with  the  interests  of  the  line  I represent  will  prevent 
my  attendance  at  your  meeting.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  Mr.  Wilson  may 
be  with  you. 

I fully  sympathize  with  the  object  of  the  Association,  and  shall  be  pleased  to 
hear  of  its  continued  success.  Yours  truly, 

R.  CARROLL,  General  Superintendent . 

Queen  and  Crescent  Route,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  March  5,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWPIIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — Mr.  Richard  Carroll,  General  Superintendent,  has  forwarded  to 
me  a circular  bearing  your  signature,  dated  Nashville,  February  20.  It  is  a 
matter  of  regret  that  circumstances  will  prevent  either  Mr.  Carroll  or  myself 
attending  your  meeting  at  the  dates  indicated,  but  I beg  to  convey  to  you  and 
the  members  of  your  Association  the  assurance  that  the  management  of  our 
system  is  heartily  in  accord  with  every  movement  which  may  have  a tendency 
to  stimulate  emigration  to  the  South.  Our  management  may  be  depended  upon 
for  liberal  co-operation  in  every  definite  step  which  your  organization  may  take. 
Trusting  to  hear  from  you  frequently  and  definitely  as  to  the  requirements  of 
the  work,  I am  yours  truly,  E.  P.  WILSON,  G.  P.  A. 

E.  T.,  Va.  & Ga.  R.  R.,  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  February  26,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I am  in  receipt  of  your  kind  letter  of  February  20,  inviting  my 
presence  at  Nashville  on  March  11,  12  and  13,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America.  I will  endeavor  to  arrange  to 
be  present,  as  I shall  probably  have  business  at  Nashville  or  Louisville  about 
that  time. 

I am  indebted  for  the  kind  sentiments  in  which  your  invitation  is  phrased,  and 
appreciate  thoroughly  the  merit  and  importance  of  the  work  in  which  you  are 
engaged.  Very  respectfully,  A.  POPE,  G.  P.  <5 f T.  A. 

E.  T.,  Va.  & Ga.  R.  R.,  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  March  14,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir  : — Your  telegram  of  the  8th  reached  me  at  New  York.  I fear  it 


328 


Proceedings  of  the 

will  be  impossible,  because  of  many  engagements  that  are  now  pressing  me,  to 
be  with  you  at  Nashville  at  the  period  named.  I shall,  however,  do  so  if  I 
possibly  can.  Very  respectfully,  A.  POPE,  G.  F.  dr1  T.  A. 

Pensacola,  Fla.,  March  8,  1884. 
Mr.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir: — In  response  to  your  invitation  to  attend  your  meeting  on  the  nth 
inst.,  I am  forced  to  decline  on  account  of  a previous  engagement.  Florida  is 
raf  idly  filling  up  with  emigrants,  but  in  her  vast  area  there  is  still  left  room  for 
many  more.  Very  little  is  known  abroad  or  in  the  remote  sections  of  our  own 
country  concerning  our  soil,  climate,  productions,  and  social  institutions,  and  we 
welcome  every  effort  to  secure  immigration,  that  our  various  lands  may  become 
productive.  More  population  is  necessary  to  occupy  and  cultivate  our  waste 
spots,  but  we  can  hardly  hope  to  secure  many  accessions  from  abroad  through 
the  Eastern  cities. 

The  South  must  have  a Castle  Garden  of  her  own,  and  I would  call  attention 
to  Pensacola’s  peculiar  fitness  for  such  an  institution,  with  a mild  and  healthy 
climate  at  all  seasons,  and  railroad  connections  to  all  sections  of  the  South,  it 
stands  as  an  eminently  proper  place  for  the  establishment  of  a place  of  refuge 
for  emigrants,  where  accommodations  and  information  can  be  had.  With  the 
tide  of  emigration  once  directed  towards  our  Southland,  it  would  soon  increase 
to  immense  proportions,  and  our  unoccupied  lands  everywhere  would  be  sought 
and  made  productive.  Trusting  that  your  deliberations  may  create  a well- 
matured  immigration  scheme,  I am,  very  respectfully, 

W.  D.  CHIPLEY. 

Little  Rock  & Fort  Smith  Railway, 

Little  Rock,  Ark.,  March  1,  1884. 
TO  THE  OFFICERS  AND  MEMBERS  SOUTHERN  IMMIG’N  ASS’N. 

Gentlemen Allow  me  to  thank  you  for  the  very  kind  invitation  extended  me 
to  meet  with  you  in  session  on  the  nth,  12th  and  13th  prox.,  and  regret  very 
much  my  inability  to  accept.  The  duties  of  my  office  at  that  time  will  be  such 
as  to  require  my  immediate  and  constant  presence  here,  but  while  I cannot  be 
with  you,  I assure  you  that,  as  your  aim  is  to  build  up  and  foster  that  institution 
which  is  intended  to  materialize  our  Southern  country  and  develop  its  wealth, 
you  have  our  warmest  congratulations  and  our  heartiest  wishes  for  your  success. 

This  undertaking  of  yours  is  a laudable  one,  and  should  engage  the  attention 
and  have  the  good  wishes  of  all  friends  of  emigration.  The  North,  heretofore, 
has  laid  the  largest  claim  upon  foreign  emigration,  and  was  justly  entitled  to  it 
on  account  of  the  efforts  put  forth  by  her  to  bring  the  people  within  her  borders  ; 
but  now,  if  our  Southern  ports  of  entry  are  made  points  of  destination  for  the 
emigrants  in  contra-distinction  to  Castle  Garden  in  New  York  and  other  ports, 
and  the  great  resources  of  the  South  are  brought  out  in  contrast  with  the  already 
crowded  centers  of  the  East  and  Northwest,  and  the  more  genial  clime  and  pro- 
ductive soil  of  our  Southern  country  shown  satisfactorily  to  them,  there  is  noth- 
ing to  prevent  us  from  filling  up  our  wasted  area  with  skillful  mechanics,  intelli- 
gent farmers,  practical  engineers,  and  laborers  in  every  department  of  practical 
and  cultured  life. 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  329 

If  what  I have  stated  be  your  aim  in  this  organization,  I am  with  you,  and 
will  render  you  every  aid  in  our  power  in  accomplishing  these  great  results.  I 
am  yours  truly,  H.  WOOD,  General  Manager. 

Col.  T.  M.  Gibson,  our  Land.  Commissioner,  who  presents  this,  is  fully  author- 
ized to  represent  us.  H.  WOOD,  General  Manager. 


Norfolk  & Western  Railroad  Co., 
Roanoke,  Roanoke  County,  Va.,  February  26,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I beg  leave  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  circular  of  the  22d 
inst.  I regret  exceedingly  that  I will  not  be  able  to  be  present  personally,  much 
as  I would  like  to.  The  objects  your  Association  have  in  view  are  very  impor- 
tant, and  should  merit  the  closest  attention  from  all  who  are  interested  in  the 
development  of  the  Southern  States. 

Your  efforts  have  my  entire  sympathy,  and  I will,  as  far  as  practicable,  give 
them  my  entire  and  cordial  support.  Yours  truly, 

JOSEPH  H.  SANDS,  General  Siiperintendent. 

Little  Rock,  Ark.,  March  9,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — Up  to  a day  or  two  ago  I had  fully  made  up  my  mind  to  attend 
your  Convention  in  person,  but,  unfortunately,  I have,  in  the  last  twenty-four 
hours,  been  taken  sick  with  fever  and  ague.  I regret  very  much  my  inability 
to  attend.  I am  with  you  heartily  in  this  work,  and  will  lend  every  aid  in  my 
power,  both  personal  and  political,  toward  miking  this  move,  on  your  part, 
successful.  I appreciate  the  importance  of  the  enterprise,  and  will  give  it  active 
encouragement  in  furthering  and  building  it  up.  If  you  desire  to  give  me  any 
part  of  the  work  by  placing  me  on  committee,  or  assigning  me  any  other  duty, 
you  can  do  so,  and  you  wall  find  me  at  my  post  of  duty  whenever  necessary.  I 
would  like  to  become  a member  of  your  organization,  and  if  it  can  be  done  in 
my  absence,  you  are  fully  authorized  to  do  anything  necessary  with  a view  to 
that  end. 

I inclose  you  a letter  from  our  General  Manager,  which  I intended  using 
myself,  but  send  it  to  you  to  be  used  as  you  think  proper.  He  is  heartily  with 
us,  and  will  lend  every  aid  necessary  in  building  up  and  fostering  the  institu- 
tion. Wishing  you  all  godspeed  in  this  laudable  enterprise,  and  holding  myself 
in  readiness  to  do  any  duty  assigned  me.  I am  very  truly  yours, 

T.  M.  GIBSON,  Land  Commissioner  Valley  Route. 

Kansas  City,  Springfield  & Memphis  Railroad  Co., 

Kansas  City,  Mo.,  March  5,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn.  * 

Dear  Sir : — I duly  received  your  valued  invitation  to  attend  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America,  to  be  held  in  Nashville 
March  nth,  12th  and  13th,  1884,  and  regret  that  other  pressing  engagements 
will  prevent  an  acceptance,  of  it. 

As  the  representative  of  an  important  railroad  terminating  on  the  western 


330 


Proceedings  of  the 

border  of  your  State,  I shall  be  glad  to  be  informed  of  the  proceedings  at  the 
meeting,  and  assure  you  that  the  Association  may  depend  upon  the  co-operation 
of  this  company  in  carrying  out  any  plan  that  may  seem  practicable,  and  will 
have  the  effect  of  bringing  people  into  your  State.  Yours  truly, 

GEO.  H.  NETTLETON,  President. 

Little  Rock,  Ark.,  February  29,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  kind  and  urgent 
invitation  to  be  with  you  on  the  13th  of  March  with  some  remarks  on  the  “Re- 
sources of  Arkansas.”  Recognizing  the  importance  of  the  movement  which 
you  have  inaugurated*  it  will  give  me  pleasure  to  attend  and  assist  to  the  extent 
of  my  limited  ability,  if  it  be  possible  for  me  to  get  away.  Hoping  to  see  yon 
at  time  specified,  and  wishing  you  great  success  in  the  enterprise,  very  truly 
yours,  THOMAS  ESSEX. 

Chesapeake,  Ohio  & Southwestern  R.  R., 

Louisville,  Ky.,  February  23,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I have  received  your  favor  of  the  20th  inst.,  inviting  me  to  attend 
the  first  meeting  of  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America  on  the  nth 
prox.  Fully  appreciating  the  importance  of  the  great  work  which  you  have 
undertaken,  and  sympathizing  with  you  in  the  earnest  energy  which  you  have 
displayed  in  pressing  it  forward,  I thank  you  for  the  invitation,  and  will,  with 
great  pleasure,  meet  with  you  and  your  associates  at  the  time  rramed  if  my 
official  duties  will  permit  me  so  doing.  At  any  rate,  wishing  you  the  utmost 
success,  I am,  yours  very  truly,  J.  M.  ECHOLS,  Vice-President. 

Vicksburg,  Miss.,  March  10,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Commissioner,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I have  been  working  with  a threatened  attack  of  pneumonia, 
hoping  to  be  relieved  in  time  to  be  with  you  on  the  nth.  I find  now  that  I 
cannot  safely  leave.  Ought  not  the  Executive  Committee  arrange  to  get  legis- 
lation from  Louisiana  looking  to  organization  of  a Castle  Garden  in  New 
Orleans?  I would  be  pleased  to  aid  in  all  practicable  ways.  Yours  truly, 

A.  M.  PAXTON. 

Vicksburg,  Miss.,  February  25,  1884. 
COL.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — Your  favor  of  the  20th  to  hand.  I presume  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee will,  at  your  proposed  meeting,  indicate  the  line  of  active  work.  I have 
just  returned  from  Jackson,  and  our  people  are  in  favor  of  organizing  a perma- 
nent “ Castle  Carden  ” in  New  Orleans.  I hope  to  be  with  you.  Yours  truly, 

A.  M.  PAXTON. 

Southern  Express  Co.,  Savannah,  Ga.,  March  7,  1884. 
PRESIDENT  AND  SECRETARY  S.  I.  A.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sirs : — I beg  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  an  invitation  to  be  present  at 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  331 

the  first  meeting  of  your  Association,  to  be  held  at  Nashville  on  the  nth,  12th 
and  13th  of  March,  and  to  convey  my  regrets  that  business  engagements  else- 
where will  deprive  me  of  that  pleasure. 

I am  qualified  to  know,  however,  that  our  Superintendent,  Mr.  H.  C.  Fisher, 
expects  to  be  present,  and  I beg  to  assure  you  of  my  best  wishes  for  the  success 
of  your  labors.  Yours  truly,  H.  B.  PLANT,  President. 


Southern  Express  Co.,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  February  22,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir Your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Southern 
Immigration  Association,  to  be  held  at  Nashville  on  the  nth,  12th  and  13th 
prox.,  has  been  received. 

I have  a great  desire  to  be  present  at  the  meeting,  and  nothing  but  the  most 
pressing  engagements  will  keep  me  away.  I shall  certainly  try  to  be  there. 
Very  truly  yours,  H.  C.  FISHER,  Superintendent. 

New  Orleans,  La,  March  10,  1884. 
WM.  H.  HARRIS,  Esq.,  Care  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I unavoidably  failed  to  see  you  at  the  train  yesterday  evening  to 
tell  you  that  what  I feared  would  prevent  me  from  getting  off  with  you  has 
occurred.  Complicated  office  business  which  demands  my  personal  attention 
for  perhaps  the  whole  of  this  week  ties  me  down  here. 

Please  present  my  regrets  to  the  Association,  and  assure  the  gentlemen  in 
attendance  that  whatever  share  of  work  may  be  assigned  me  for  execution  here 
will  have  my  earnest  attention.  • I remain  very  truly,  your  friend, 

JOHN  GLYNN,  Jr. 

Note. — This  letter  was  not  presented  to  the  Association,  but  found  in  the 
committee  room  March  13,  at  10:30  p.  m. 

S.  H.  NOWLIN,  Secretary. 

Albany,  Ga.,  March  8,  1884. 

Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I have  delayed  answering  your  letter  of  February  20th,  with  the 
hope  that  I might  so  arrange  my  business  as  to  be  able  to  accept  your  invitation 
to  attend  the  first  meeting  of  your  Association.  I assure  you  it  would  afford  me 
pleasure  to  do  so,  but  circumstances  beyond  my  control  will  prevent,  and  I will 
have  to  content  myself  with  acknowledging  and  thanking  you  for  your  kind  invi- 
tation. It  will  be  conceded  that  while  the  Southern  States  have  displayed, 
since  the  war,  great  energy,  enterprise  and  recuperative  power,  that  they  have 
shown  a singular  indifference  and  disregard  to  Southern  immigration.  I am 
convinced  that  this  has  been  from  no  want  of  interest  in,  or  recognition  of,  the 
necessity  of  immigration,  but  from  the  want  of  some  organization  to  inaugurate 
it,  and  to  give  united  and  practical  effects  to  our  efforts  in  this  direction.  The 
Southern  Immigration  Association  meets  this  long  felt  want,  and  I sincerely 
hope  and  believe,  will  adopt  such  means  and  measures  as  will  bring  to  our 
Southern  States  immigration  to  develop  our  immense  resources.  I am  sir,  with 
very  great  respect,  yours  very  truly,  JOHN  A.  DAVIS. 


332 


Proceedings  of  the 

Boston,  Mass.,  February  23,  1884. 
Maj.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — Your  very  cordial  invitation  to  attend  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America,  to  be  held  in  Nashville  March 
nth,  12th  and  13th,  is  highly  appreciated.  I would  be  delighted  to  accept, 
but* it  is  impossible  to  leave  my  post  at  that  time.  I am  in  hearty  sympathy 
with  you  in  this  noble  work,  and  to  the  full  extent  of  my  humble  opportunities, 
will  cheerfully  aid  you  at  any  and  all  times.  Very  truly  yours, 

C.  P.  GAITHER. 


Tallahassee,  Fla.,  March  8,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir Your  esteemed  favor  of  the  4th  inst.  received.  I had  made  all 
my  arrangements  to  leave  here  to-morrow  evening  for  Nashville  ; and  in  the 
almost  certainty  of  going,  declined  a lecture  for  which  I was  billed  next  Tues- 
day night.  I regret  to  say,  however,  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be 
present  at  the  approaching  Convention.  Our  ubiquitous  General  Seibring  will, 
however,  be  with  you,  and  his  experience  and  zeal  in  the  great  work  you  have 
so  successfully  inaugurated,  will,  no  doubt,  aid  you  in  your  deliberations. 

Ever  since  the  late  war,  my  attention  has  been  directed  to  diverting  immigra- 
tion to  the  South.  We  must  compete  with  the  great  Northwest,  and  to  succeed, 
do  as  they  do.  To  accomplish  this,  we  must  first  secure  cheap  transportation  ; 
and  second,  by  liberal  appropriation  from  the  several  States,  have  funds  for  an 
immigrant  home,  extensive  advertising,  etc.  What  we  need  is  concert  of  action , 
and  this  the  Association  you  have  inaugurated  will  accomplish. 

I would  suggest  that  the  Executive  Committee  appoint  a sub-committee  of 
three  on  transportation.  If  possible,  let  at  least  one  man  on  this  committee  be 
a railroad  man.  As  there  is  hardly  a point  in  the  South  that  can  be  reached  by 
competing  lines  of  railroad,  it  would  be  possible  for  this  committee  to  arrange 
for  low  rates  with  some  particular  line  for  the  immigrant.  For  instance,  the  usual 
immigrant  rates  from  New  York  to  Tallahassee  is  $25;  but  by  the  Association 
patronizing  a particular  line,  these  rates  might  be  cut  down  to  $20.  Concert  of 
action  will  give  us  power.  This  committee  might  also  arrange  for  free  passes 
for  the  members.  Steps,  too,  should  be  taken  locking  to  a subsidized  line  of 
steamers  from  Liverpool  or  Bremen  to  some  Southern  port.  The  agents  of  the 
line  could  be  the  agents  of  the  Association.  Again,  in  view  to  keep  up  the 
interest,  I would  suggest  that  the  next  meeting  of  the  Association  be  held  in 
Norfolk  or  some  Atlantic  port  of  the  Southern  States. 

Savannah,  I see,  sends  a delegation,  and  I hope  other  cities  will  contribute 
their  quota.  Hoping  and  believing  that  great  good  will  result  from  your 
approaching  deliberations,  I am  very  truly  yours,  J.  T.  BERNARD. 


Little  Rock,  Aric.,  March  11,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Commissioner,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

My  Dear  Sir : — I very  much  regret  that  circumstances  forbid  my  meeting  with 
you  in  Nashville  this  week.  This  immigration  question  is  one  that,  for  years, 
has  engaged  what  little  ability  I possess  in  that  way. 


333 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 

I trust  I may  be  pardoned  for  this  seeming  egotism,  but  as  the  Convention 
meets  in  my  native  State,  to  which  I still  look  longingly,  I can  but  express  the 
hope  that  your  session  may  be  harmonious,  successful  and  full  of  much  promise 
to  the  whole  South.  I am  truly, 

LOUIS  L.  PARHAM,  Ed.  and  Pub.  Southern  Gazetteer. 

Cullman,  Ala.,  February  26,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — I am  in  receipt  of  yours  of  the  20th,  inviting  my  son  Otto  to  be 
present  at  your  meeting  next  month  in  Nashville.  My  son  is  at  present  canvass- 
ing in  the  old  country  in  the  interest  of  Southern  immigration,  and  has  already 
visited  Northern  Germany,  Wurtemberg,  Bavaria,  and  is  now  engaged  in  Aus- 
tria. I have  forwarded  his  appointment  as  member  of  your  Executive  Commit- 
tee to  him,  but  as  he  cannot  possibly  be  present  at  your  meeting,  I will  try  to 
come  in  his  place,  provided  my  time  and  business  permits  it.  Yours  very  truly, 

JOHN  G.  CULLMANN,  Land  Commissioner. 

Cullman,  Ala.,  March  6,  1884. 

Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — 111  your  favor  of  February  27th,  you  request  that  I express  my 
opinion,  how  the  Southern  Immigration  Association  should  operate  mutually 
for  the  fourteen  'Southern  .States  so  that  successful  immigration  is  led  to  the 
South.  Your  first  letter  was  sent  by  me  to  my  son,  who  replied  to  the  same  a 
few  days  ago,  and  I now  base  my  opinion  on  his  views  and  my  experience  in 
the  immigration  business,  and  take  the  liberty  to  acquaint  you  with  same. 
There  is  no  question  that  a great  deal  can  be  accomplished  by  working  together, 
and  if  the  work  would  be  entrusted  to  efficient,  energetic  and  able  parties,  who 
display  an  interest  in  the  matter  and  have  the  necessary  experience.  The  work 
of  the  Association  ought  to  be  divided  into  two  parts : 

1.  The  general  work  of  the  Association. 

2.  The  work  of  each  immigration  agent  in  his  own  State. 

The  work  of  the  Association  would  principally  be  conducted  outside,  being 
necessary  to  lead  the  tide  of  immigration  to  the  South,  and  classified  as  follows  : 

1.  To  establish  a sea-port  in  the  South,  and  erect  buildings  similar  to  Castle 
Garden,  in  New  York. 

2.  To  secure  a steamship  company  which  will  make  regular  trips  to  said  port. 

3.  Have  pamphlets  printed,  which  mention  the  advantages  of  the  South  for 
immigration,  its  agricultural  lands  and  wealth  in  minerals,  and  its  great  indus- 
trial resources.  In  this  pamphlet  every  State  should  enter  its  own  programme, 
worked  up  by  its  own  agent,  which,  together  with  reports  of  the  whole  South, 
would  be  a valuable  guide  to  immigrants. 

4.  To  secure  agents  that  will  distribute  these  pamphlets  in  Northern  and 
Eastern  States,  as  well  as  in  Europe,  these  pamphlets  to  be  printed  in  English 
and  German  languages.  In  Europe  these  pamphlets  could  be  distributed  by 
agents  of  the  various  steamship  companies,  a plan  which  we  have  found  to  work 
admirably  in  our  business. 

5.  If  the  means  justify  it,  to  engage  speakers  who  would  address  meetings  in 


334  Proceedings  of  the 

the  East,  North  and  West,  and  contend  against  the  prejudice  of  the  other 
States  against  the  South. 

6.  To  procure  able  correspondents  in  the  Northern  papers  to-direct  attention 
to  the  South,  also  have  communications  in  Southern  papers  showing  Southern 
people  the  advantages  of  immigration,  and  prompting  them  to  overcome  their 
prejudice  to  immigrants. 

7.  To  enter  into  necessary  arrangements  with  steamship  and  railroad  compa- 
nies, so  that  immigrants  and  new  settlers  are  granted  same  privileges  as  Western 
roads  extend  ; also  to  confer  with  express  companies,  so  that  rates  are  reduced 
in  order  to  allow  farmers  to  dispose  of  their  produce ; at  present,  rates  are  so 
high  that  after  same  are  paid  nothing  is  left  to  farmer. 

Immigration  agents  in  every  State  must  be  required  to  represent  the  interests 
of  their  own  State.  I deem  it  unnecessary  to  enter  into  particulars,  as  the  appro- 
priations of  the  various  States  differ  very  much,  but  the  principal  object  is  that 
agents  remain  in  connection  with  the  Association,  and  receive  pamphlets,  circu- 
lars and  instruction  through  the  same. 

But  as  this  enterprise,  which  is  of  vital  importance  to  the  South,  cannot  be 
successfully  conducted  unless  the  necessary  pecuniary  aid  is  provided,  the  first 
steps  which  the  meeting  of  the  Association  at  Nashville  should  agree  on,  are  to 
request  the  various  States  and  corporations  to  provide  the  necessary  means  and 
pecuniary  aid. 

This  is  my  opinion  of  your  enterprise,  and  if  at  all  possible,.  I will  be  present 
at  your  meeting.  Yours  very  truly,  JOHN  G.  CULLMANN. 


Charleston,  S.  C.,  February  28,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Dear  Sir : — In  the  valuable  and  interesting  letter  from  the  Hon.  George  C. 
Tanner  to  Senator  Butler  particular  stress  is  laid  upon  the  importance  of  direct 
steam  communication  with  European  ports,  and  it  is  suggested  this  may  be 
accomplished  by  providing  for  any  deficiency  against  a company  establishing  a 
line  of  steamships.  * 

It  may  not  be  known  to  you  that  in  1873  the  following  offers  were  made  by 
the  “ North  German  Lloyd,”  one  of  the  wealthiest  steamship  companies  in  the 
world,  to  establish  a direct  and  regular  line  between  this  city  and  Bremen, 
leaving  either  port  monthly,  and  guaranteeing  six  hundred  (600)  immigrants 
each  trip : 

1.  The  North  German  Lloyd  and  the  State  of  South  Carolina  (or  other 
responsible  body)  each  to  place  on  the  line  a steamship  of  like  tonnage,  the 
earnings  to  be  pooled. 

2.  The  North  German  Lloyd  to  place  on  the  line  two  steamships,  representing 
a capital  of  $1,000,000,  the  ship  owners  to  be  secured  against  any  deficiency 
necessary  to  a return  of  four  (4)  per  cent,  on  the  investment. 

From  a recent  conversation  with  Maj.  Franz  Melchers,  the  agent  of  the  line, 
and  to  whose  efforts  is  due  the  above  stated  offers,  it  is  believed  an  arrangement 
of  this  kind  is  still  feasible. 

Freights  and  immigrants  and  other  passages  would  have  left  at  that  time  a 
trivial  deficiency.  With  the  prosperity  that  has  since  obtained,  and  possible 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  335 

exports,  as  suggested-by  Mr.  Tanner,  the  responsibility  will,  in  all  probability, 
end  with  the  signing  of  the  contract. 

Mr.  Tanner  advises  direct  communication,  to  prevent  immigrants  desiring  to 
come  South  being  hampered  and  “manipulated”  on  arrival  in  New  York.  But 
the  disadvantage  the  South  labors  under  is  not  solely  manipulation  in  “Castle 
Garden.”  It  is  the  perfect  system  that  prevails  with  leading  railroad  corpora- 
tions North  and  Northwest  for  peopling  their  roads,  and  by  which  immigrants 
are  “booked”  for  the  West  before  quitting  their  native  lands.  This  is  accom- 
plished by  easy  land  offers  to  immigrants  and  “commissions”  between  the 
railroads  and  steamship  companies,  and,  in  turn,  between  the  latter  and  their 
regular  local  agents  in  every  town  and  hamlet.  A very  large  percentage  of 
immigrants  when  selecting  new  homes  are  largely  influenced  by  these  local 
agents,  and  the  section  paying  the  heaviest  commissions  is  not  unfrequently 
pictured  as  the  “garden  spot  of  the  world.” 

,In  promoting  direct  steam  communication  it  would  seem,  from  the  foregoing, 
desirable  to  co-operate  if  possible  with  leading  ocean  companies  having  ramifi- 
cations throughout  Germany  and  the  continet,  in  position  to  insure  immigrants, 
and  I doubt  if  any  plan  more  economical  could  be  devised. 

These  offers  and  facts,  with  many  other  points  of  interest  and  importance 
touching  this  subject,  were  placed  before  the  Immigration  Committee  of  the 
Taxpayers’  Convention,  and  the  State  Grange  of  South  Carolina  in  1874,  but 
the  State  government  and  unsettled  surroundings  were  inimical  to  any  proposi- 
tion or  arrangement  seeking  to  increase  the  white  population. 

I trust  these  suggestions  may  prove  of  some  value.  They  are  prompted  by 
a desire  for  the  up-building  of  the  South,  the  only  excuse  I can  offer  for  the 
liberty  I have  taken.  Trusting  your  Association  will  speedily  accomplish  all 
that  can  be  desired,  I am,  very  respectfully,  etc., 

EDGAR  E.  SELL. 


At  a public  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  held  in  the  hall  of  the 
City  Exchange  Tuesday,  March  4,  1884,  to  consider  the  invitation  of  the 
Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America  to  attend  its  first  meeting,  to  be 
held  in  the  city  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  on  March  11,  12  and  13,  Capt.  W.  G. 
Raoul  was  called  to  the  Chair,  and  F.  G.  du  Biguan,  Esq.,  requested  to  act  as 
Secretary. 

Upon  motion  of  Capt.  J.  H.  Estell,  the  invitation  was  accepted,  and  a com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  Chair  to  select  seven  (7)  delegates  to  represent  the  city 
at  the  meeting  of  said  Association.  The  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose 
reported  the  following  names  as  delegates,  to-wit : Capt.  J.  M.  Guerard,  M.  B. 
Millen,  George  N.  Nichols,  D.  R.  Thomas  and  C.  H.  Dorsett,  which  report  was 
unanimously  adopted  by  the  meeting,  and  the  delegates  named  therein  author- 
ized to  represent  the  city  of  Savannah  at  the  meeting  of  said  Association. 
Extract  from  minutes  of  said  meeting. 

F.  G.  DU  BIGUAN,  Secretary.  W.  G.  RAOUL,  Chairman. 

TO  THE  SOUTHERN  IMMIGRATION  CONVENTION,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Gentlemen  Having  been  chosen  one  of  the  delegates  to  represent  Bruns- 
wick, Ga.,  in  your  Convention,  and  being  unable  to  attend,  by  reason  of  illness, 


336 


Proceedings  of  the 

and  having  been  specially  connected  with  an  effort  to  induce  direct  immigration 
to  the  South  through  this  port,  I take  the  liberty  of  addressing  your  honorable 
body  a communication,  explaining,  so  far  as  may  be  done  in  a letter,  what  has 
been  done. 

Years  ago  I became  convinced  that  no  effort  to  induce  a share  of  immigration 
through  Castle  Garden  to  the  South  could  be  successful.  The  Western  States, 
railroad  companies,  emigration  agents  and  land  companies,  with  their  agencies 
established  on  the  continent  and  in  England,  could  not  be  successfully  competed 
with.  Again,  a very  large  class  of  the  emigration  which  passes  through  Castle 
Garden  each  year,  while  available  and  valuable  in  the  far  West,  with  the  induce- 
ments that  are  there  offered  to  it,  is  not  of  a sort  that  would  be  desirable  in  the 
South,  certainly  not  at  present.  I was  convinced  that  only  in  one  way  could 
we  control  emigration  to  the  South,  of  a character  such  as  would  be  beneficial 
to  the  South,  and  to  the  emigrant,  and  that  that  way  was  through  the  estab- 
lishment of  a Southern  emigration  depot  at  some  point  on  the  South  Atlantic 
coast,  and  I chose  Brunswick  because  it  is  my  home,  and  because  I believe  it  the 
best  calculated  for  the  purpose  of  any  seaport  upon  the  South  Atlantic  coast. 
No  emigration  project  can  succeed  by  itself;  it  can  only  succeed  as  a part  of  a 
commercial  enterprise  and  steamship  line. 

The  harbor  of  Brunswick  is  easy  of  access,  has  seventeen  (17)  feet  of  water  at 
low  tide,  with  seven  (7)  feet  rise  of  tide,  making  a total  depth  over  outer  bar  of 
twenty-four  (24)  feet,  ample  depth  within  the  harbor,  over  thirty  (30)  miles  of 
available  water  front,  with  deepwater  close  in  shore,  enabling  vessels  of  twenty- 
one  (21)  feet  to  be  towed  at  dead  low  water  to  the  extreme  of  harbor,  ready  for 
sea  on  a rising  tide,  with  a number  of  large  inlands  in  the  harbor,  two  of  which 
are  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  an  emigration,  depot,  each  having 
ample  high  lands,  ample  depth  of  water,  affording  an  opportunity  of  isolating 
emigrants  from  the  main  land  and  from  contaminating  town  influences,  and 
with  ample  room  upon  them  to  establish  hospitals  for  the  sick,  separating  the 
sick  from  the  well  ; two  railroads,  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  & Georgia,  and 
the  Brunswick  & Western  Railroad,  with  their  connections,  furnishing  ample 
outlets  to  all  portions  of  the  South  for  all  emigrants  who  might  be  received  at 
this  point. 

I had  written  a series  of  articles  upon  this  subject  for  our  local  press,  prior 
to  1882,  which  attracted  outside  attention,  and  in  May,  1882,  through  friends 
in  New  York,  was  introduced  by  letter  to  a gentleman  who  has  since  taken  a 
very  deep  interest  in  this  matter,  and  who  was  then  residing  in  the  city  of 
Boston,  named  Andrew  J.  Rogers,  and  was  a colonel  in  the  Confederate  service, 
I believe  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Virginia  Cavalry.  After  getting  my  ideas  in 
detail  in  relation  to  the  enterprise,  he,  at  his  own  expense,  had  prepared  for 
distribution  a prospectus  of  a company,  to  be  known  as  “The  Brunswick 
Land,  Improvement  and  Colonization  Company,”  and  after  ascertaining  what 
method  would  have  to  be  adopted  to  procure  a charter  for  such  a company  in 
the  State  of  Georgia,  had  a charter  procured  through  the  firm  of  Goodyear  & 
Kay,  of  which  I am  a member,  he  paying  all  the  expense  therefor.  I also  pro- 
cured for  him  a complete  set  of  maps  of  the  South  Atlantic  coast,  of  the  harbor 
of  Brunswick,  and  of  the  county  of  Glynn,  and  in  October,  1882,  he  sailed  for 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  337 

London,  where  he  had  resided  for  some  three  years  since  the  war,  and  entered 
into  negotiations  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  enterprise,  which  was  intended  to 
be  the  shipment  of  all  classes  of  Southern  products,  and  ultimately  of  grain,  to 
England  and  Continental  ports,  and  the  shipment  from  England  and  Continental 
ports  of  the  products  of  those  countries  needed  in  the  South,  and  the  shipment 
of  laborers  skilled  in  mining  to  develop  our  coal  and  iron  industries,  but  mainly 
of  small  farmers,  from  England  and  the  Continent,  especially  from  Germany 
and  England,  with  some  means  and  able  to  buy  their  own  homes. 

Since  October,  1882,  I have  been  in  constant  correspondence  with  this  gen- 
tleman, and  have  found,  what  I have  previously  found  in  negotiations  with 
English  people,  that  they  were  exceedingly  deliberate  in  arriving  at  their  con- 
clusions. With  their  money  once  expended,  they  will  continue  to  put  money 
in  until  their  enterprise  proves  a success,  but  the  rub  is  to  get  the  first  money 
expended.  A dozen  times  since  Mr.  Rogers’  arrival  in  London  the  matter  has 
been  on  the  eve  of  success,  and  as  many  times  some  unforeseen  circumstances 
has  delayed  negotiations,  but  has  never  broken  them  up.  On  the  nth  of  last 
December  I wrote  Mr.  Rogers  that  I was  satisfied  that  the  enterprise  could  only 
be  started  upon  a safe  and  satisfactory  basis  by  sending  an  agent  of  the  English 
company,  in  whom  the  English  investors  had  the  utmost  confidence,  to  visit 
Brunswick,  confer  with  the  railroad  authorities  of  the  railroad  systems  of  the 
South,  and  with  the  representatives  of  the  various  business  interests  of  the  South, 
and  ascertain  exactly  what  could  be  hoped  for,  first,  in  the  way  of  support  of  a 
steamship  line  by  shipments  of  cotton  and  other  products  of  the  South  to  England 
and  continental  ports  ; and  second,  what  might  be  hoped  for  in  the  way  of  return 
cargoes ; and  third,  what  could  be  hoped  for  in  the  way  of  immigration. 

I think  emigration  to  the  South  to  be  a good  and  necessary  thing,  both  from 
an  economic  and  political  point  of  view,  but  there  is  another  thing  which  a 
project  such  as  I have  outlined,  and  have  been  working  on  in  a practical  way, 
would  establish,  and  such  as  I presume  your  Association,  while  styled  solely  an 
Emigration  Association,  is  fully  in  sympathy  with,  which  seems  to  me  far  more 
important  to  the  South  than  any  other  one  step  that  the  South  can  take,  and 
that  is  the  fostering  and  building  up  of  direct  trade. 

In  accordance  with  my  suggestion  of  the  nth  of  December,  the  English 
company,  which  has  been  chartered  in  London  with  the  same  general  purposes 
as  the  charter  obtained  in  Georgia,  are  preparing  to  send  out  an  English  agent 
to  examine  the  harbor  of  Brunswick  and  confer  with  the  railroad  authorities 
and  business  interests  generally,  during  the  dull  months  of  the  summer,  with  a 
view  to  the  establishment  of  a steamship  line  between  Liverpool  and  Brunswick 
in  the  early  fall  or  winter. 

I had  expected  to  be  able  to  attend  the  convention,  but  at  the  last  minute  I 
find  myself  in  bed,  unable  to  move,  and  refer  to  this  only  as  an  excuse  for  the 
hurried  and  perhaps  incoherent  way  in  which  this  letter  is  written.  Very 
respectfully,  C.  P.  GOODYEAR. 

Per  STAEY,  Secretary. 

St.  Paul,  Minn.,  March  6,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

I have  the  honor  to  call  your  attention,  and  that  of  the  honorable  members  of 
22 


338 


Proceedings  of  the 

the  Southern  Immigration  Association,  to  the  inclosed  statement  and  plan  for  a 
French  colony,  and  would  respectfully  ask  your  early  consideration  of  the  sub- 
ject and  co-operation  with  me  in  efforts  to  bring  about  the  establishment  of  such 
colony. 

I am  already  in  receipt  of  many  communications  from  my  countrymen  who 
would* be  glad  to  take  advantage  of  such  oppcrtunity  to  make  homes  for  them- 
selves in  this  country,  and  most  of  whom  have  money  enough  to  purchase  such 
tracts  of  land  as  are  therein  proposed  to  be  sold.  If  it  should  meet  with  favor- 
able consideration,  I am  prepared  to  furnish  satisfactory  references,  and  shall 
wait  your  early  reply.  Respectfully  yours,  F.  C.  BOUCHER. 

COLONIZATION  SCHEME. 

Prof.  T.  C.  Boucher,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  respectfully  submits  to  your  consid- 
eration the  establishment  of  colonies  of  French  agriculturists  in  the  State 
of , or  such  other  Southern  States  as  may  be  found,  on  examina- 

tion, suitable  in  point  of  health,  climate  and  fertility  for  the  special  cultivation, 
besides  the  ordinary  products,  of  the  grape-vine,  sorghum  and  sugar-cane,  flax, 
hemp  and  fibrous  plants;  and  lays  before  you  the  following  plan,  viz. : 

1.  The  purchase  of  large  tracts  of  land  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  grapes 
and  ordinary  products,  on  which  to  open  farms  for  the  introduction  of  French 
colonists. 

2.  The  planting  of  sites  for  French  villages. 

3.  The  building  of  manufactures  of  wines,  cane  and  sorghum  sugar,  and  for 
working  flax,  hemp,  silk,  cotton,  or  whatever  else  would  be  found  useful  and 
profitable  for  the  State  and  for  the  colonists. 

4.  For  prospecting  on  mining  lands  and  working  ores  of  all  kinds,  and  mining 
for  coal  and  other  mineral  products. 

To  accomplish  this,  a stock  company  would  be  formed  with  a capital  of  $ , 

divided  into shares  of  $ each,  the  operations  of  the  company  to  com- 
mence as  soon  as  $ of  the  capital  is  subscribed,  by  inviting  a selected  com- 

munity and  selling  to  its  members  a house  and  lot  of  forty  acres  at  a very  low 
price,  with  the  privilege  to  buy  another  forty  acres  in  the  same  quarter  of  sec- 
tion at  a price  determined  on  in  advance. 

After  having  prepared  the  farms  and  established  the  villages,  the  company 
should  proceed  to  build  manufactures  for  making  wine  and  sugar,  and  for  work- 
ing all  fibrous  matters,  etc. 

PROFITS. 

It  is  an  incontrovertible  fact  that  few  enterprises  produce  more  profitable 
results  than  the  selling  of  real  estate  when  properly  managed.  The  profits  of 
the  company  will  be  derived  : 

1.  From  the  sales  of  lands  and  the  houses  erected  thereon. 

2.  From  the  sales  of  lots  in  the  villages,  and  rents  of  stores  and  houses  to  be 
built  therein  by  the  company. 

3.  From  manufacturing. 

These  profits  should  exceed  25  per  cent,  annually.  But  capitalists  do  not  ask 
profits  alone,  they  must  also  have  security  for  their  investments,  so  the  company 
should  have  to  offer,  as  available  assets : 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


339 


1.  The  soil. 

2.  Buildings  erected  on  each  farm  and  in  the  villages. 

3.  The  increase  in  value  of  the  intervening  tracts  of  land. 

4.  The  manufacturing  and  machinery. 

With  such  securities,  the  originators  of  the  company  can  hope  to  find  ready 
subscribers,  not  only  among  those  who  take  a special  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  State,  but  among  that  numerous  class  of  persons  who  look  first  for  their 
own  individual  advantages. 

Some  one  might  ask,  What  are  the  advantages  to  be  derived  for  the  State 
from  the  establishment  of  such  colony  ? They  may  be  enumerated  thus : 

1.  The  colonists  being  carefully  selected  for  their  skill  and  industry,  and 
from  amongst  French  agriculturalists,  whose  thrift  and  intelligent  pursuit  of 
their  calling  is  universally  acknowledged,  will  soon  become,  by  their  example, 
the  unconscious  preceptors  of  their  neighbors,  and  effect  the  general  improve- 
ment of  the  industry  of  the  entire  community  in  this  respect. 

2.  The  establishment  of  manufactures  of  the  products  on  the  ground  where 
they  are  grown,  which  will  here  be  initiated,  will  soon  become  general,  and  will 
wonderfully  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  entire  State. 

3.  The  receipt  by  those  who  perform  the  labor  of  growing  and  manufacturing 
the  proposed  products,  and  by  those  who  furnish  the  capital  to  carry  on  such 
industries,  of  the  entire  profits  of  the  business,  will  conduce  to  make  the  invest- 
ments of  labor  and  money  yield  a much  larger  percentage  than  where  the  two 
branches  of  industry  are  widely  separated  and  a double  expense  of  transporta- 
tion and  handling,  first  of  the  same  material  and  then  of  the  manufactured  arti- 
cle, has  to  be  incurred. 

4.  Those  who  contribute  to  the  establishment  of  such  colony  will  have  the 

proud  satisfaction  of  knowing  that,  while  they  have  advanced  their  own  pecu- 
niary welfare,  they  have  contributed  materially  and  permanently  to  aid  in  the 
development  of  their  country  and  increase  the  comforts  and  happiness  of  num- 
bers of  their  fellow-men.  F.  C.  BOUCHER. 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  March  8,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Esq.,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

I had  intended  to  come,  but  owing  to  the  serious  illness  of  my  wife,  and 
pressing  official  duties,  I find  it  will  be  impossible. 

J.  PROCTOR  KNOTT. 


Knoxville,  Tenn.,  February  10,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Regret  exceedingly  that  my  duties  here  will  prevent  my  being  with  you  on  the 
nth.  JOHN  F.  O’BRIEN. 


Little  Rock,  Ark.,  March  n,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Believing  results  for  which  your  Association  strives  of  transcendent  import- 
ance, I wish  it  grandest  possible  success,  deeply  regretting  unavoidable  absence. 

LOGAN  H,  ROOTS. 


340 


Proceedings  of  the 

Raleigh,  N.  C.,  March  8,  1884. 
Maj.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

The  Governor  is  absent  from  Raleigh.  I regret  to  say  it  will  be  impossible 
for  me  to  attend  the  Convention.  M.  McGHEE,  Commissioner. 

Staunton,  Va.,  March  10,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Resident,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Just  returned  from  long  absence.  Impossible  for  me  to  come. 

JED  HOTCHKISS. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  10,  1884. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Resident,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

It  is  a matter  of  sincere  regret  that  I cannot  be  with  you  at  the  meeting  of 
your  Association.  I write  you  to-day.  JOHN  C.  BROWN. 

Tyler,  Texas,  March  12,  1884. 

Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Illness  in  family  prevents  my  going  to  Nashville.  With  sincere  regrets, 

R.  B.  HUBBARD. 

Raliegh,  N.  C.,  March  11,  1084. 

A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

I regret  that  I am  unable  to  attend  the  Emigration  Convention.  Official 
duties  prevent.  I am  deeply  interested  in  the  object  of  the  Convention,  and 
pledge  myself  and  my  State  to  aid  in  carrying  them  out. 

THOMAS  I.  JARVIS. 

Louisville,  Ky.,  March  12,  1884. 
Col.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Greatly  disappointed.  Expected  to  be  with  you  to-day.  Unavoidably 
detained.  In  full  accord  with  you.  LUKE  P.  BLACKBURN. 


St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  8,  1884. 
Hon.  A.  J.  McWHIRTER,  President,  etc.,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Gen.  Marmaduke,  for  reasons  stated  in  his  letter  to  you,  and  because  of 
important  engagements  here,  regrets  that  he  cannot  attend.  I have  not  seen 
Gov.  Stannard,  and  very  greatly  fear  that  I will  be  unable  to  go.  Will  write 
you  in  a day  or  two  in  full.  JOHN  C.  BROWN. 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


34i 


ADDRESS  OF  A.  j.  McWHIRTER, 

President  Southern  Immigration  Association  of  America, 

AT  VICKSBURG,  MISSISSIPPI,  NOVEMBER  21,  1883. 


SOUTHERN  IMMIGRATION, 

Civilization  is  a great  equalizer,  whether  or  not  the  philosophies  of  men  admit 
it,  the  conglomerate  elements  of  the  living  world  arrange  themselves  like  undis- 
solved  fluids  in  the  order  of  their  specified  gravities. 

In  no  phase  of  civilization  is  its  equalizing  tendency  more  signally  displayed 
than  in  the  distribution  and  fixation  of  the  population  of  the  world. 

The  influences  which  determine  the  development  of  a country  through  the 
influx  of  people  are  manifold  and  varied.  Time  was  when  the  shores  of  our 
own  beloved  country,  unknown  as  it  then  was  in  all  its  boundless  wealth  and 
illimitable  resources,  offered  an  asylum  and  a refuge  in  its  luxuriant  wilds  to 
those  who  sought  only  safety  from  persecution  and  “ freedom  to  worship  God .” 
And  when  political  oppression  succeeded  religious  intolerance  in  the  march  of 
ages,  the  tide  of  immigration  to  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave 
received  a new  and  grander  impulse.  Later  on  the  sovereigns  of  Western 
Europe  came  to  regard  America  as  Russia  did  Siberia — the  cesspool  for  their 
criminals  and  the  dumping  ground  for  their  rebellious  and  banished  subjects. 
But  when  the  wonderful  possibilities  of  our  country,  under  a system  of  govern- 
ment unequaled  in  its  encouragement  of  individual  enterprise,  and  unsurpassed 
in  its  support  of  its  individual  interests,  rose  up  before  the  world  like  Aladdin’s 
magic  palace  before  Persia’s  astonished  morn,  new  impulses  were  brought  into 
play  and  new  influences  lured  the  crowded  population  of  Europe  and  of  Asia  to 
the  soil  of  America,  where  there  was  bread  enough  and  to  spare  for  men  of 
honest  toil,  and  boundless  wealth  for  those  whose  capital  and  energy  could  find 
too  little  room  in  the  overtaxed  resources  of  the  Old  World. 

To-day,  when  religious  tolerence  is  the  order  of  all  civilized  government, 
when  political  oppression  is  largely  tempered  by  governments  of  the  world,  it* 
is  clear  that  the  great  stimulus  to  emigration  is  now  the  search  for  wealth  and 
independence  in  the  resources  of  an  undeveloped  land.  And  it  is  this  which 
to-day  commands  our  serions  attention,  as  it  is  soon  to  become  the  most  impor- 
tant factor  in  the  great  problem  of  American  civilization. 

The  Southern  Immigration  Association,  which  was  organized  by  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  Southern  States,  in  convention  assembled,  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
on  the  nth  of  October  last,  and  of  which  they  did  me  the  honor  of  electing  me 
president,  comprehends  in  part  the  work  of  devising  the  ways  and  means  of 


342  Proceedings  of  the 

determining  immigrants  and  capital  to  our  sparcely  populated  section.  The 
States  embraced  in  our  Association  are,  viz.  : 

The  two  Virginias,  the  two  Carolinas,  Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi, 
Louisiana,  Texas,  Arkansas,  Missouri,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee.  Fourteen 
States,  representing  an  area  of  887,480  square  miles,  and  a population  of  only 
17,425,575— a population  something  less  than  one-half  of  Austria  and  Hungary, 
that  enjoy  an  area  of  only  240,834  square  miles,  or  25,000  square  miles  in  round 
numbers  less  than  the  single  State  of  Texas.  Or  only  a little  larger  than  one- 
half  the  population  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  that  possess  an  area  of  121,- 
607  square  miles,  which  is  within  a fraction  of  the  combined  area  of  two  of  our 
States,  viz.  : North  Carolina  and  Missouri. 

In  a word,  the  area  embraced  in  the  fourteen  States  comprehended  in  the 
system  of  this  Association  is  greater  than  the  combined  area  of  Austria,  Hun- 
gary, France,  Germany,  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  Belgium,  Denmark,  Nether- 
lands or  Holland,  Portugal,  and  Switzerland,  which  sustain  a population,  as  per 
census  reports  of  1870,  of  163,869,055,  or  186  to  the  square  mile  as  compared 
to  ours,  which  is  something  less  than  twenty  to  the  square  mile. 

To  this  broad,  to  this  grand  field  of  action,  we  are  here  to-day  not  alone  to 
procure  your  endorsement,  but  to  invite  your  co-operation.  We  invoke  the  aid 
of  every  intelligent  planter  in  our  Southland  to  this  glorious  work,  which  has 
already  been  deferred  too  long.  We  shall,  at  an  early  day,  make  our  appeal  to 
those  great  commercial  arteries  of  the  Southern  States — the  railroads,  and  also 
to  the  steamship  lines,  for  their  endorsement  and  co-operation. 

Heretofore  the  shrewd  capitalists  of  the  North  and  East  have  taken  time  by 
the  forelock,  and  by  their  well-ordered  systems  they  have  turned  the  tide  of 
immigration  into  their  centers  of  manufacture,  and  other  industrial  fields,  pop- 
ulating their  cities  and  their  forests  and  their  plains,  and  giving  them  a balance 
of  power  in  the  sway  of  government  and  the  control  of  wealth  never  otherwise 
to  be  obtained.  The  old  aristocratic  tendencies  of  the  South,  while  they 
developed  a race  of  noblemen,  have  stood  very  much  in  the  path  of  industrial 
progress. 

Social  culture  has,  in  the  South,  crystalized  about  it  all  those  elements  which 
tend  to  materialize  a country  and  develop  its  wealth.  Our  “ peculiar  institu- 
tion,” as  it  has  been  called,  had  developed  in  us  a carelessness  or  apathy  towards 
the  development  of  other  resources  then  apparently  so  little  needed  to  fill  out 
the  complement  oTSouthern  political  economy.  But  the  cataclasm  of  civil  war, 
disrupting  our  inherent  customs,  overthrowing  our  cherished  institutions,  and 
forever  destroying  the  policy  of  our  people,  if  I may  so  term  it,  has  brought  us 
face  to  face  with  the  grand  necessity  for  the  utilization  of  our  undeveloped 
resources  if  we  expect  to  keep  pace  with  the  march  of  civilization  and  hold  our 
place  as  factors  in  its  mighty  problem. 

Throughout  the  Old  World,  the  idea  prevails  even  among  the  educated,  that 
south  of  Mason  and  Dixon’s  line  there  is  naught  but  cotton-crested  fields  belted 
by  dismal  swamps  and  choked  with  malaria — a land  that  denies  ingress  to  all 
but  the  hot-blooded  Southerner  and  the  swarthy  African.  Whether  these  ideas 
have  been  disseminated  with  purpose  or  not,  it  is  for  us  to  demonstrate  their 
fallacy  and  make  known  to  the  world  the  inexhaustible  treasures  of  our  soil, 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  343 

and  the  perfect  congeniality  of  our  clime  with  any  nation,  or  kindred,  or  peo- 
ple, or  tongue  within  the  limits  of  the  civilized  world. 

The  tendency  of  emigration  to  follow  isothermal  lines  has  done  much  to  deter- 
mine the  settlement  of  Scandinavians  and  other  thrifty  people  of  Northern 
Europe  into  the  colder  regions  of  America,  while  those  of  the  South,  who  emi- 
grate in  fewer  numbers,  have  been  retained  in  the  Northern  and  in  the  Eastern 
States  by  the  extraordinary  facilities  for  earning  a livelihood  offered  by  those 
States  to  immigrants  of  every  class. 

What  immigrant  from  the  Old  World  thinks  of  reaching  any  point  of  destina- 
tion except  through  Castle  Garden?  And  with  what  avidity  they  are  seized 
upon  by  those  who  would  utilize  their  labor  and  fill  their  own  coffers  with  the 
result  of  their  thrift  and  industrial  skill  ? It  is  the  purpose  of  our  Association 
to  devise  those  measures  which  will  place  us  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  North 
and  the  East  in  the  interest  of  American  immigration.  Our  ports  of  entry, 
New  Orleans,  Norfolk,  etc.,  are  to  be  made  points  of  destiny  for  the  emigrant 
and  the  wonderful  resources  of  our  own  Southland  are  to  be  brought  out  in 
prominent  contrast  with  the  already  crowded  centres  of  the  North  and  East,  and 
the  less  genial  clime  and  productive  soil  of  those  sections  which  hitherto  have 
laid  the  largest  claim  upon  foreign  immigration. 

Let  us  look  into  this  matter  a little  more  closely.  What  are  the  occupations 
of  the  burgeois,  burghei ',  or  peasantry  of  Europe  ? The  laboring  classes  of  Ire- 
land, from  which  our  country  has  ever  drawn  large  draughts  of  population, 
seem  born  to  the  pick,  the  shovel  and  the  spade.  They  are  accustomed  to  the 
bog  and  the  fen,  and  who  can  imagine  a wider  field  for  their  employ  than  in  the 
reclamation  of  our  swampy  regions  and  lowlands  along  our  Southern  river 
courses.  This  is  a question  which  is  now  greatly  agitating  the  powers  that  be, 
and  armies  of  laborers  will  be  needed  for  this  work.  Enough  to  place  a spade 
in  the  hands  of  every  laboring  Irishman  that  seeks  American  soil  as  a refuge 
from  English  tyranny  and  Irish  penury. 

The  German  emigrants,  under  better  advantages  of  social  and  intellectual 
culture,  are  more  varied  in  their  industrial  capacities.  Among  them  you  can 
find  intelligent  farmers,  skillful  mechanics,  practical  engineers,  experienced 
stock  breeders,  and  artists  in  every  department  of  practical  and  cultured  life. 
In  short,  the  German  Empire  offers  to  the  world  a people  better  prepared  to 
utilize  all  the  resources  of  a country  than  history  has  ever  known,  and  the 
stream  of  German  emigration  to  America  is  constant  and  vast. 

The  Scandinavian  peasantry  are  born  farmers — farmers  from  instinct — and  for 
industry,  sobriety,  economy  and  general  intelligence  are  not  surpassed  by  any 
class  or  nationality  seeking  homes  in  free  America. 

Shall  we,  of  the  South,  lose  all  this?  Look  at  the  vast  plains  of  Texas,  the 
Lone  Star  State,  with  an  area  larger  than  Germany,  than  Austria  and  Hungary, 
or  than  France,  which  latter  Empire,  in  1868,  not  only  supplied  her  teeming 
38,000,000  of  population  with  food  and  raiment,  but  exported  to  the  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  more,  in  dollars,  of  eggs  and  poultry,  than  the  whole 
of  the  United  States  did  of  beef  and  pork.  Not  only  did  she  do  that,  but  she 
also  exported  to  the  same  Kingdom  in  the  same  year  more  beef  than  we  did  ! 
Texas,  that  vast  empire  of  domain,  is  thirsting  for  cultivation  and  bursting  with 


344 


Proceedings  of  the 

food  for  man  and  beast.  A thousand  educated  Germans  or  Scandinavians  thrown 
into  the  State  of  Texas  would  do  more  for  its  development,  and  bring  it  more 
actual  wealth  out  of  its  resources  than  could  ever  be  hoped  for  from  the  native 
Texan. 

The  very  vastness  of  our  resources  has  made  us  indifferent  to  their  develop- 
ment. *The  knowledge  of  wealth  is  too  often  the  paralysis  of  industry.  Look  at 
Louisiana  ? Its  sugar  plantations  have  been  relegated,  as  a matter  of  course,  to 
the  negro,  whose  Boeotian  skull  has  been  ever  considered  the  only  organism 
capable  of  resisting  the  heat  of  the  Southern  sun.  But  skilled  and  intelligent 
labor  laughs  at  these  old  traditions,  and  even  the  oldest  and  most  prejudiced 
among  us  now  recognize  the  fact  that  such  conclusions  are  the  offspring  of 
ignorance  nurtured  in  luxurious  idleness.  In  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Georgia 
and  South  Carolina,  States  which  before  the  war  had  come  to  be  regarded  as 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  vast  cotton  fields,  Northern  and  foreign  capital  is 
beginning  to  flow,  and  the  mineral  and  manufacturing  interests  of  these  States 
are  rapidly  rivaling  in  revenue  the  wealth  derived  from  their  own  peculiar  staple. 
For  the  development  of  these  resources  we  are  to  look  to  foreign  capital  and 
foreign  labor.  The  negro  is  foreordained  to  the  cotton  field.  Nature  has 
arranged  all  this  matter  by  a system  of  economic  selection , if  I may  borrow  the 
term  from  science. 

There  is  work  enough  in  the  cotton,  rice  and  sugar  fields  for  every  negro  on 
the  continent  to  obtain  his  livelihood  thereby.  Beyond  this,  however,  at  least 
three-fourths  of  the  possible  wealth  of  the  Southern  States  lies  undeveloped,  and 
to  immigration  alone  can  we  look  for  the  realization  of  wealth  from  these 
resources.  Tennessee,  my  own  State,  has  of  late  been  vigorously  alive  to  the 
importance  of  inviting  immigration  to  her  borders,  and  a new  and  healthful 
impulse  in  every  department  of  industrial  pursuit  has  been  the  natural  result. 

But  we  of  the  South  are  to-day  sadly  at  a disadvantage.  Of  all  the  emigrants 
that  turn  their  faces  to  America,  as  I have  before  intimated,  there  are  but  few 
who  expect  to  enter  America  by  any  other  channel  than  Castle  Garden.  Can 
we  wonder,  then,  that  the  South  has  not  received  the  benefit  of  immigration  ? 

These  isothermal  lines  of  which  our  Northern  brethren  talk  so  learnedly  and 
so  persistently,  that  many  of  them  actually  have  come  to  accept  this  chimerical 
fancy  as  the  living  truth — these  “ isothermal  lines  ” have  built  up  the  cities  of 
the  Northwest,  and  made  its  bleak,  cold  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose. 

The  creameries  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Iowa,  the  great  brew- 
eries of  the  East  and  the  West,  are  almost  exclusively  the  result  of  foreign  labor. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  their  great  forges,  foundries,  rolling-mills,  glass-works 
and  furniture  factories.  But  does  any  one  who  knows  aught  of  climate  and  soil 
of  the  Southern  States  dare  to  say  that  all  this  could  not  be  accomplished  here? 
The  cry  has  gone  up  against  us  that  we  breathe  an  atmosphere  of  death  ; that 
the  vampire  of  infection  hangs  ever  over  us  and  sucks  the  life-blood  from  the 
channels  of  industry  and  trade.  Immigrants  ar.e  imposed  upon  by  corrupt 
agents  representing  the  railway  and  other  real  estate  corporations  of  the  great 
and  unfathomable  Northwest,  a majority  of  whom  have  been  made  op'ulent  in 
public  domain  at  the  expense  of  the  general  Government,  and  these  agents  often 
display  maps  of  the  United  States,  with  the  entire  list  of  the  Southern  States 


Southern  Immigration  Association . 345 

marked  in  Ethiopian  darkness,  with  here  and  there  a skull  and  cross-bones 
labeled  Yellow  Fever  District — Famine  and  Pestilence.  The  cold  and  ice-bound 
regions  of  the  Northwest,  Dakota  for  example,  if  their  land  happens  to  lie  in 
that  State,  is  portrayed  in  roseate  hues,  with  deeper  red  lines  of  the  ethereal 
railways  they  represent,  permeating  their  Eden  and  Eldorado.  They,  poor  fel- 
lows, are  told  to  follow  these  bright  lines,  follow  the  latitude  from  which  they 
are  about  to  emigrate,  and  all  will  be  well.  There  is  no  one  there  to  tell  them 
that  mere  latitude  does  not  determine  climate,  and  that  the  same  line  of  latitude 
upon  the  map  belts  a variety  of  climes,  differing  as  much  from  one  another  as 
do  the  varying  seasons  of  the  year. 

Even  so  prominent  a political  economist  as  Alexander  Delmar  will  persist  in 
promulgating  this  specious  fallacy.  In  a learned  article  on  American  Immigra- 
tion, he  writes  as  follows  : 

“ Immigration  has  always  been  encouraged  by  the  Federal  and  State  Govern- 
ments of  this  country,  and  by  many  of  the  latter  the  inducements  held  out  to  the 
settlers  are  very  attractive.  The  Federal  Homestead  Act  of  May  20,  1862,  how- 
ever, continues  to  remain  the  most  substantial  provision  of  this  sort.  It  secures 
to  every  actual  settler — the  head  of  a family — 160  acres  of  public  land,  substan- 
tially gratis,  in  absolute  fee  simple.  A fact  likely  to  prove  of  considerable  im- 
portance to  the  future  history  of  this  country,  is  the  disposition  of  migrators  to 
confine  themselves  to  isothermal  lines.  Our  immigrants  from  the  United  King- 
dom and  Germany  will  be  found  settled  mainly  in  the  same  latitudes  they  left, 
viz. : On  the  Ohio,  Northern  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers  and  their  affluents, 
and  on  the  shores  of  the  great  lakes.  The  Scandinavians  settle  in  the  most 
Northern  States.  The  Southern  States  are  almost  destitute  of  foreign  popula- 
tion, migrators  from  Spain  and  Italy  going  chiefly  to  South  America.  This  may 
be  due  to  language  or  religion,  but  is  mainly  attributable  to  climate  and  the 
similarity  of  agricultural  productions,  the  staples  of  our  Southern  States — cotton 
and  tobacco — being  unfamiliar  to  the  peasants  of  Southern  Europe.  These  facts 
would  indicate  a serious  diminution  of  immigration  whenever  the  causes  that 
now  superinduce  it  from  Northern  Europe  to  this  country  shall  cease  to  pre- 
vail.” 

And  yet  this  is  in  the  face  of  the  census,  which  shows  that  the  immigrants, 
consisting  mainly  of  farmers  and  farm  laborers,  healthy  and  in  the  prime  of  life, 
die  much  faster  than  the  native  population  where  the  isothermal  theory  is 
applied,  like  a procrustean  bed  to  determine  the  locality  of  settlement.  I have 
given  much  thought  to  this  subject  of  late  years,  with  large  opportunities  for 
investigation,  and  I fail  to  find  that  even  the  hardy  Norsemen  of  Scandinavia 
find  a more  healthful  and  congenial  clime  along  the  icy  lakes  of  the  North  than 
by  the  magnolia-bordered  Gulf  of  the  Sunny  South,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of 
those  from  other  lands,  who  have  sought  and  found  healthful  homes  among  us. 
Sanitary  science  is  fast  eliminating  epidemic  disease  from  all  quarters  of  the 
civilized  world  where  once  it. was  wont  to  lurk,  while  at  all  other  times  than 
during  localized  epidemics  the  health  of  the  South  is  remarkable,  and  its  death 
rate  singularly  low  in  comparison  with  that  of  the  North. 

The  unsettled  political  relations  of  the  South  have  been  urged  against  us  in 
determining  the  settlement  of  emigrants,  but  this  has  come  to  be  regarded  even 


346 


Proceedings  of  the 

in  the  North  by  sensible  men  as  merely  the  trick  of  politicians,  without  any 
foundation  in  fact  whatever.  Our  people,  though  fierce  in  war,  are  mild  in 
peace.  Throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  civilized  universe,  no  people 
can  be  found  who  would  have  fallen  so  heartily  into  the  grand  purposes  of  the 
general  Government  when  the  issues  which  once  alienated  them  became  dead 
letters  In  their  political  history. 

Partisans  to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding,  the  people  of  the  South  are  a 
peace-loving,  law-abiding  and  proverbially  hospitable  people,  and  the  political 
freedom  and  civil  liberty  of  the  immigrant  will  be  as  sacredly  preserved  to  him 
in  any  quarter  of  our  land  as  beneath  the  great  white  dome  of  liberty  itself. 

Our  needs  and  our  capacities  are  both  before  you,  and  we  are  here  in  the 
initiative  before  this  intelligent  audience,  representatives  of,  I believe,  all  the 
States  embraced  in  our  Association,  to  inaugurate  the  proper  means  of  correla- 
ting them  into  practical  issues. 

Our  first  need  is  the  establishment,  at  our  Southern  ports,  of  a well-ordered 
system  of  reception  fcr  foreign  immigrants.  We  want  them  to  come  directly  to 
our  ports,  to  be  met  by  our  own  people,  and  to  be  determined  in  their  destina- 
tion by  men  who  know  our  country,  and  can  intelligently  differentiate  the 
masses  and  direct  the  individual  to  those  environments  best  adapted  to  his  pre- 
vious condition  of  life  and  occupation. 

From  Norfolk  to  Galveston  ! What  a sweep  of  shore  ! And  along  that  ocean 
margin  the  finest  harbors  of  the  world  are  found.  It  is  a burning  shame  that 
we  have  not  waked  up  to  this  matter  earlier  in  the  history  of  our  development. 
Our  ports  of  entry  present  no  appearance  of  activity  or  life  such  as  give  reputa- 
tion to  the  crowded  harbors  of  the  North,  and  it  is  immigration  which  will  give 
them  life.  Committees  from  every  State  legislature  should  be  appointed  to  con- 
sider the  subject  of  determining  and  distributing  emigrants  throughout  our 
lovely  and  healthful  Sunny  Southland,  and  if  it  be  thought  advisable,  and  I do 
so  think,  a representative  should  be  appointed  for  the  port  of  entry  most  con- 
tiguous to  the  State,  who  shall  take  hold  of  these  people,  bring  before  them  the 
peculiar  advantages  of  his  own  section,  and  apply  to  their  needs  whatever  assist, 
ance  or  appropriation  his  State  may  have  seen  fit  to  offer  in  the  interest  of  immi- 
gration. 

Gentlemen,  Mahomet  must  go  to  the  mountain ! Never  until  a thorough 
organization  is  effected  can  we  hope  to  secure  for  ourselves  the  wonderful  pros- 
perity which  the  well-spring  of  emigration  has  poured  out  over  the  States  of  the 
North  and  West.  We  must  offer  proper  inducements.  Our  legislatures  must 
help  us  by  positive  enactments  anent  this  great  vitalizing  element  of  political 
economy  around  which  crystalize  so  many  and  such  important  interests.  We, 
therefore,  emphasize  our  invocation  of  your  aid.  You,  the  representatives  of 
75  per  cent,  of  the  tax-payers  of  those  sparsely-settled  Southern  States,  speak 
through  your  legislators,  State  and  National — demand  of  them  your  rights,  and 
that  demand  will  not  be  disregarded. 

There  is  nothing  which  so  brings  to  light  the  resources  of  a country  as  a direct 
oceanic  communication  with  the  outer  world.  If  immigration  has  to  be  filtered, 
let  us  do  it  for  ourselves. 

Through  Castle  Garden,  the  North  is  enabled  to  retain  the  very  best  immi- 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  347 

grant  elements — leaving  the  refuse  to  drift  at  will  where  bare  sustenance  may 
be  a possibility. 

With  immigration  agencies  at  our  Southern  ports,  the  distribution  of  these 
people  would  be  in  our  own  hands,  and  under  such  a system  our  population 
would  receive  a healthful  increase,  and  the  resources  of  our  country  experience 
a steady  and  fruitful  development.  Our  plantations  have  always  been  too  large ; 
they  are  but  half  cultivated  at  best ; we  should  divide  them  up  and  cultivate 
less  land  and  cultivate  it  better  ; skilled  labor  and  machinery  would  go  a long 
way  toward  remedying  this. 

Granted  that  the  experience  of  planting  in  the  South  has  demonstrated  the 
necessity  for  the  negro  in  the  cultivation  of  cotton.  The  plantations  are  all 
much  larger  than  necessary  to  produce  the  same  amount  of  this  staple,  and  it 
has  ever  been  the  bane  of  the  South  that  she  has  sent  her  wealth  out  of  her 
borders  to  purchase  from  the  great  Northwest  food  for  the  stock  used  in  the 
raising  of  this  cotton,  and  that  might,  with  but  little  effort,  be  produced  upon 
their  own  soil  without  the  expense  of  transportation,  and  better  adapted  to  the 
digestion  and  healthful  condition  of  animals  in  the  South  than  any  grain  that 
the  North  or  West  can  produce. 

If  Southern  planters  do  not  want  to  worry  with  this,  as  being  an  interest  too 
small  for  their  consideration,  let  them  rent,  lease,  or  sell  to  a German,  Swiss,  or 
a Scandinavian,  a small  portion  of  their  lands,  and  enough  of  grain  will  be  pro- 
duced to  supply  the  wants  of  every  such  plantation  without  the  payment  of  one 
dollar  for  transportation. 

And  then  again,  with  the  skilled  laborers  from  the  crowded  centers  of  Eng- 
land, France  and  Germany,  what  is  to  prevent  the  manufacture  of  goods  from 
cotton  and  from  wool  right  upon  the  fields  of  their  production?  With  a right 
system  of  Southern  immigration,  with  proper  inducements  held  out  for  settle- 
ment among  us,  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  smoke  of  the  foundry,  the 
factory  and  the  cotton-gin,  will  go  up  together  as  incense  to  the  heaven  that  has 
blessed  us  with  such  illimitable  and  varied  resources  of  industrial  wealth. 

An  erroneous  impression  seems  to  have  prevailed  in  the  South  that  emigrants 
are  all  outcasts,  that  no  one  would  leave  his  home  for  residence  in  a foreign 
land  but  an  exile,  or  one  under  the  ban  of  social,  political  or  civil  ostracism. 
Ah ! it  is  difficult,  indeed,  for  our  Southern  people,  with  their  broad  acres  of 
rich  and  productive  land,  to  conceive  of  the  want,  the  penury,  the  abject  poverty 
of  the  European  laborer.  Skilled  as  he  generally  is  in  the  department  of  life  to 
which  he  has  been  called,  the  overcrowded  thoroughfares  can  give  him  in  return 
for  his  labor  but  little  else  than  his  daily  bread  and  a fire  to  shelter  him  from  an 
ungenial  clime.  It  is  scarcely  creditable  to  a Southern  planter,  whose  acres  of 
black  prairie  soil  is  almost  bursting  with  pregnant  wealth — it  is  hard  for  him  to 
believe  that  within  a few  square  yards  of  old  and  worn-out  soil  a German  family 
find  its  sole  support,  and  thanks  the  God  who  gave  him  so  much  as  even  that. 

It  is  hard  to  believe  in  this  land  of  liberty  that  whole  households  stand  shiv- 
ering at  the  door  of  the  huts  from  which  they  have  been  evicted,  hungering  for 
bread  and  clamoring  for  labor  to  make  it.  These  things  are  no  fancy  sketches, 
but  the  living,  burning  truth,  and  civilization  has  suffered  it  too. 

The  honest  laborer  of  Europe  is  often  highly  cultivated  and  well  prepared  for 


34§ 


Proceedings  of  the 

any  station  in  life,  and  yet  for  want  of  occupation  he  must  remain  a pauper  at 
home  or  find  employment  in  other  lands  where  labor  is  in  demand,  and  the  soi^ 
more  productive,  and  the  burden  of  life  less  difficult  to  bear. 

The  fact  that  paupers  and  criminals  were  once  sent  over  to  America  by  the 
wholesale  from  Europe,  has  done  much  to  prejudice  the  South  against  immigra- 
tion.* To  guard  against  this  practice,  however,  which  really  is  now  almost  a 
thing  of  the  past,  most  of  the  States  have  enacted  severe  laws.  In  Georgia,  for 
example,  an  alien  felon  is  punishable  with  banishment,  and  for  a second  offense 
“ he  shall  suffer  death  without  benefit  of  clergy.”  In  Massachusetts,  a town 
rendered  liable  for  the  expense  of  supporting  or  burying  any  pauper  immigrant, 
may  maintain  an  action  of  debt  for  the  same  against  the  master  of  the  vessel 
who  brought  him  in.  In  Rhode  Island,  the  importation  of  any  person  of  a 
notoriously  dissolute,  infamous  and  abandoned  life  and  character,  “ is  punishable 
with  heavy  fines.”  In  the  States  of  New  York,  New  Hampshire,  Maine,  Mary- 
land, Louisiana,  and  Texas,  the  ship  master  must  indemnify  the  State  against 
the  expense  of  maintaining  any  pauper  immigrants  he  may  bring  in.  Commu- 
tation money  may,  in  certain  cases,  be  substituted,  and  this  is  generally  the 
practice  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

As  a matter  of  course  it  becomes  us  to  protect  ourselves  against  any  abuse  of 
this  privilege  of  settling  among  us,  which  we  throw  open  to  the  world.  But 
this  can  easily  be  avoided  by  a thorough  system  of  organization,  and  the  needs 
of  our  country  met  without  inconvenience  or  injury.  This  is  our  mission  here. 
A great  work  lies  before  us.  What  we  shall  inaugurate  here  at  this  time  is  to 
be  the  avant  courier  of  a more  glorious  destiny  for  our  Southern  land. 

Under  the  formative  hand  of  intelligent  industry  all  the  plastic  elements  of 
national  success  will  be  moulded  into  monuments  of  wealth  and  glory  to  which 
the  eyes  of  a universe  will  turn  as  a pilgrim  to  his  Mecca. 

Exhaustless  possibilities  are  ours.  The  future  is  pregnant  with  glory,  and  it 
is  a well  ordered  immigration  that  shall  pronounce  the  open  sesame  to  the 
treasures  of  our  Southern  soil. 

A new  era  is  dawning  upon  us.  The  prejudices  of  the  past  are  vanishing  be- 
fore the  necessities  of  the  present.  A broader,  grander  view  of  life  spreads  out 
before  us, 

“And  I doubt  not  through  the  ages, 

One  increasing  purpose  runs, 

And  the  thoughts  of  men  are  widened 
With  the  process  of  the  suns.” 


Southern  Immigratio?i  Association. 


349 


JOHN  W.  RYCKMAN 

ON  THE  INDUSTRIAL^  CONDITION  OF  THE  SOUTH— HE  PREDICTS 
THAT  THE  SOUTH  IN  1894  WILL  PRODUCE  MORE  GOODS 
THAN  NEW  ENGLAND  DOES  TO-DAY. 


[Boston  Journal  of  Commerce .] 

The  citizen  who  steps  beyond  the  ordinary  paths  of  life  to  declare  his  faith  in 
the  greater  changes  which  mark  the  progress  of  a nation,  and  who  dares  to 
assume  risks  and  responsibilities,  founded  only  on  the  hope  that  such  changes 
will  be  realized,  should  at  least  receive  credit  for  the  courage  with  which  he 
declares  his  convictions.  When,  therefore,  after  a careful  study  of  all  the 
industrial  conditions  in  the  South,  I predict  that  before  1894  the  States  where 
cotton  is  grown  will  produce  more  manufactured  cotton  than  New  England 
produces  now,  I expect  the  many  who  will  disagree  with  me  to  watch  the  evolu- 
tion of  events  rather  than  summarily  discredit  the  declaration  upon  old  theories. 
Comparatively  little  has  been  accomplished  so  far,  it  is  true,  and  that  little  has 
been  wrought  by  severe  struggles  against  pregnant  drawbacks.  But  no  great 
industrial  success  has  ever  been  achieved  without  harsh  and  rigid  opposition. 
Looking  over  the  long  line  of  precedents  which  the  English  nation  affords,  we 
see  very  few  instances  indeed  in  which  there  has  not  been  a long  strife  against 
the  most  positive  and  obstructive  forms  of  resistance  to  the  founding  of  any  one 
of  the  great  industries  of  which  England  is  herself  now  so  proud,  and  on  which 
almost  the  whole  structure  of  British  prosperity  now  rests.  The  methods  by 
which  the  industry  in  woolens  became,  for  English  skill,  almost  co-extensive 
with  the  civilized  world,  were  centuries  in  growing  to  that  measure  of  power. 
The  steps  by  which  the  industries  in  cotton  became  English,  almost  to  the 
exclusion  of  other  nations,  date  back  more  than  a hundred  years,  and  on  many 
conspicuous  occasions  the  resistance  of  incredulous  capital,  or  skill  more  fre- 
quently, the  obstructive  hostility  of  labor  itself,  delayed  improvements  almost 
through  the  lifetime  of  inventors  of  new  processes  or  the  makers  of  new  forms 
of  machinery.  Although  the  names  of  Lee,  Arkwright,  and  a score  more  men 
celebrated  for  some  improvement  or  invention,  are  now  sufficiently  honored,  it 
was  a long  time  in  each  case  before  the  practical  use  of  their  inventions  became 
general  or  made  their  due  impression  on  the  common  state  of  society  and  of  the 
national  prosperity.  I cite  these  illustrations  for  the  encouragement  of  those 
who  are  now  moving  to  place  the  Southern  States  on  a better  basis  of  symmet- 
rical resources ; of  resources  not  limited  to  the  wealth  of  the  raw  material  they 
produce — great  as  that  wealth  unquestionably  is — but  on  the  broader  policy  of 
utilizing  all  that  nature  has  given  them,  and  of  acquiring  supremacy  in  the 


35o 


Proceedings  of  the 

manufacture  of  their  own  great  staples.  The  water  power  afforded  by  a hundred 
noble  rivers  is  as  free  to  them  as  to  their  energetic  neighbors  in  Maine  or  Massa- 
chusetts, the  coal  and  iron  of  the  Southern  chain  of  the  Alleghenies  in  Alabama 
and  Tennessee  are  equal  in  competent  power  to  the  like  mineral  products  of 
Pennsylvania;  building  materials  are  as  profuse  and  cheap  as  anywhere;  the 
labor  of  the  world  is  available  ; a broad  range  of  new  markets  can  be  com- 
manded. There  is  positively  no  advantage  possessed  by  New  England  in  any 
of  these  respects ; yet,  on  the  other  hand,  apart  from  the  significant  item  of 
transportation,  the  Southern  manufacturer  can  market  his  goods  at  a half  cent 
less  cost  than  New  England  spinners,  because  of  lower  wages,  lower  taxes, 
cheaper  materials,  etc.  I know  that  this  will  be  impulsively  denied,  but  any 
man  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  post  himself  will  find  that  I am  right.  I do 
not  speak  in  antagonism  of  New  England — she  can  take  care  of  herself.  I only 
maintain  that  if  the  South  can  develop  resources  and  command  business  under 
adverse  conditions,  as  events  have  shown  she  has  done,  it  cannot  be  difficult, 
under  the  new  order  of  things,  to  secure  justice  to  her  greatly  superior  resources 
and  her  almost  unequaled  opportunities. 

I can  do  no  more  than  illustrate  the  condition  of  the  South  on  its  entrance  on 
a new  line  of  pursuits,  and  on  its  opening  attempts  to  create  a new  line  of  per- 
manent interests,  by  citing  what  recent  history  has  to  offer  in  progress  always 
certain,  but  often  painfully  slow.  It  is  really  but  a very  brief  experience  that 
the  South  has  had  in  industrial  growth.  When,  in  the  early  part  of  1880,  I had, 
with  others,  the  honor  to  take  my  own  initiative  in  suggesting  industrial  move- 
ments in  the  South,  there  was  for  some  months  almost  a distressing  search  for 
a supporting  response.  Louisville  (since  triumphant  in  its  determination  to  push 
things  in  that  direction)  was  then  not  prepared.  Richmond,  New  Orleans, 
Nashville,  were  all  doubtful,  and  in  fact,  it  was  generally  believed  that  little 
better  than  a “raw  material  movement”  could  be  made  anywhere.  If  the 
“sand  ” and  “ motes”  could  be  shaken  out  of  all  the  cotton  bales  the  general 
judgment  would  have  been  satisfied,  and  it  was  gravely  proposed  in  some 
quarters  to  limit  any  movement  made  in  the  direction  of  Southern  progress 
almost  entirely  to  the  one  subject  of  cleaning  and  packing  raw  cotton.  There 
seemed  to  be  but  little  thought  of  diversified  manufactures,  and  the  exceptional 
possibilities  of  the  cotton  spinning  industry  were  scarcely  touched  upon.  But 
the  sentiment  of  Atlanta  was  better  in  its  appreciation  of  the  time  that  had 
come  to  the  South,  and  of  the  still  better  time  that  was  about  to  come.  That 
sentiment  was  at  the  outset  so  broad  and  liberal  as  to  give  full  assurance  to  the 
few  who  proposed  a system  of  industrial  progress  as  the  first  and  greatest  neces- 
sity for  the  South.  And  it  was  that  sentiment  which  designed  every  feature  of 
the  now  historic  exposition  at  Atlanta.  That  exposition  was  an  instruction  to 
all  the  people  of  the  South.  It  was  a new  departure  for  the  tone  of  Southern 
opinion.  It  was  an  instruction  not  given  by  others,  but  one  conceived  and 
matured  by  themselves  during  its  progress.  It  was  a departure  deliberately 
considered  and  calmly  taken  as  a great  step  of  national  duty.  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  the  silent  resolution  then  reached  by.  the  better  minds  of  the 
South  became  a fixed  principle  for  their  future  action,  and  that  it  has  borne  the 
most  remarkable  fruits  in  actual  life  and  business  since  that  time.  It  was  the 


Southern  Immigration  Association.  35 " 

inspiration  of  that  exposition  that  has  drawn  into  the  South  in  the  last  four 
years  $40,000,000  of  capital  for  investment  in  material  pursuits.  It  aroused  the 
men  of  Louisville  to  repeat  its  victories  with  greater  ceremony,  and  its  higVJy 
excitive  influence  infused  the  energy  into  New  Orleans  to  organize  the  greatest 
exposition  the  world  has  ever  seen. 

I may  be  pardoned  for  claiming  personal  interest  in  this  new  departure  of  the 
most  direct  and  positive  character.  I did  my  best  before  the  Atlanta  Exposition 
to  assure  enterprising  men  everywhere  that  the  South  was  a most  promising  field 
for  employments  in  productive  industry,  and  I have  faithfully  adhered  to  that 
policy  since,  because  I believed  in  it.  I now  claim  only  that  the  judgment  of 
progressive  men,  which  my  action  exemplified,  has  been  vindicated,  and  my 
confidence  has  been  shown  to  be  just,  and  in  like  manner  my  present  prediction 
will  be  verified  as  time  moves  on.  But  the  men  of  the  South  themselves  have 
made  the  situation  what  it  is,  and  to  them  the  honor  of  this  great  change 
belongs.  To  them  also  will  belong  the  credit  of  the  greater  achievements  that 
are  yet  to  come. 

I now  proceed  to  give,  as  directly  as  possible,  the  evidences  of  progress  made 
apparent  in  cotton  manufacturing  in  the  Southern  States  during  the  past  three 
years.  I claim  the  full  year  1881  as  belonging  to  the  hopes  and  inspirations  of 
what  I designate  as  the  new  era,  because  during  that  year,  even  in  the  early 
portion  of  it,  there  was  an  active  movement  on  the  part  of  leading  men  in  the 
South,  as  well  as  in  the  North,  incited  by  the  preparations  made  for  the  Atlanta 
Exposition.  By  referring  to  the  journals  of  that  time  it  will  be  seen  that  no 
public  measure  was  ever  more  widely  or  more  hopefully  discussed  than  that  was. 
The  declarations  of  the  meeting  of  December  2,  1880,  at  Atlanta,  were  taken  to 
have  a significance  scarcely  less  than  the  subsequent  exposition  itself.  If  I may 
be  permitted  to  recall  a remark  printed  in  the  Atlanta  Constitution  of  November 
28,  1880,  it  will  be  seen  that,  for  myself  at  least,  I had  no  halting  opinions  as  to 
the  future  of  industry  in  the  South.  In  that  statement  I said  : “By  all  means 
the  South  should  modify  its  interest  in  cotton  through  the  growth  of  manufact- 
ures,” and  I claimed  that  “ the  loom  will  weave  a fabric  of  indissoluble  interest 
between  the  North  and  the  South.”  Was  not  my  claim  justified  by  the  active 
steps  of  progress  effected  during  every  month  of  the  year  1881,  under  the  inspira- 
tion with  which  aH  parts  of  the  country  prepared  for  the  Atlanta  Exposition  ? 
And  were  not  these  events  a part  of  the  circle  of  influence  we  are  now  called  on 
to  notice  and  define  ? 

The  statistics  of  the  erection  of  new  mills,  and  of  the  founding  of  new  indus- 
tries, are  really  among  the  most  difficult  of  all  materials  to  procure.  The  official 
collection  of  such  materials  is  at  periods  too  remote  to  make  them  useful ; the 
census  of  1879-80  was  only  recently  made  public,  and  there  is  no  census  more 
recent.  By  the  census  of  1880,  the  several  Southern  States  manufactured  cotton 
in  the  census  year  ending  May  31,  1880,  as  follows: 


Southern  Immigration  Association. 


T 

Cotton  Consumed. 


Bales. 

Alabama 14,702 

Arkansas 680 

Jlorida.. 350 

Georgia 7L389 

Kentucky. . . . . . 4,050 

Louisiana. 1,358 

I Maryland 5L537 

Mississippi.. 6,411 

Missouri 6,399 

jNorth  Carolina 27,642 

South  Carolina 33,624 

ITennessee 10,436 

Texas 246 

Virginia 11,461 


240,285 


Cotton  Goods 

Value  of  Cotton 

Manufactured. 

Goods. 

9,957.512  yds 

$1,280,019 

255,000  lbs 

50,000 

134,000  lbs 

25,000 

60,540,712  yds 

6,081,894 

1,922,500  lbs 

418,296 

749,536  yds 

86,776 

29,453,^07  yds 

4,682,114 

5,163,916  yds 

697,093 

4,702,623  yds 

522,980 

15,027,745  yds 

2,854,482 

29,982,440  yds 

2,895,769 

9,890,681  yds 

874,717 

42,000  yds 

21,600 

15,704,126  yds 

1,040,962 

181,215,098  yds 

$21,561,692 

It  appears  that  Southern  cotton  mills  in  1880  consumed  240,285  bales  of  cotton 
and  made  $21,561,692  in  value  of  yarns  and  cloths,  and  that  Georgia  was  fore- 
'most  by  a large  measure,  while  Maryland  and  the  Carolinas  followed  next  in 
order.  The  number  of  mills  at  that  time  was  180,  which  has  been  increased  in 
the  past  three  years  to  314,  with  over  double  the  capacity,  and  producing  more 
than  twice  the  quantity  and  value  of  goods  as  in  1880.  If  my  prediction  of  the 
future  of  Southern  cotton  manufacturing  is  to  be  fulfilled,  this  ratio  of  growth 
must  be  maintained  steadily  for  the  next  ten  years.  Instead  of  314  mills  there 
must  be  over  1,000;  instead  of  240,000  bales  they  must  consume  over  1,200,000 


bales;  instead  of  $21,561,692  they  must  make  goods  worth  over  $108,000,000, 
and  this  is  precisely  what  I predict.  I believe,  furthermore,  that  I am  alto- 
gether low  in  my  calculations.  I have  not  a particle  of  doubt  that  more  South- 
ern mills  will  be  built  in  the  next  two  years  than  were  erected  in  the  last  four 


years. 

Another  thing  is  true  in  this  connection.  While  the  industry  has  been  in  an 
experimental  stage,  the  mills  have  been  built  very  small,  but  in  the  light  of  its 
full-fledged  prosperity  the  capacity  of  the  mills  will  be  greatly  increased.  The 
New  Orleans  Exposition  is  going  to  open  to  the  South  many  sure,  steady  and 
profitable  markets  for  cottpns  in  Mexico,  Gautemala,  Cuba  and  other  Spanish- 
American  countries  that  will  vastly  stimulate  the  growth  of  mills.  I look  to  the 
time  in  the  near  future  when  New  England  spinners  will  change  their  machinery 
and  run  upon  finer  fabrics,  leaving  the  coarse  grades  to  the  South.  Such  a 
division  would  be  advantageous  to  both  sections. 

There  is  one  thing  about  which  the  South  should  make  no  mistake.  I refer 
to  the  tariff-.  We  must  demand  the  maintenance  of  adequate  protective  duties. 
If  the  free  trade  party  should  gain  power,  my  predictions  would  not  be  realized, 
the  present  mills  would  have  a hard  struggle,  if  they  were  not,  in  fact,  closed, 
and  the  South  would  drop  back  to  its  former  deplorable  position  of  a producer 
of  raw  materials  for  the  English  markets.  If  the  South  has  the  distinctive 
strength  of  position  which  is  claimed  for  her,  and'  can  command  so  much  under 
the  difficulties  heretofore  existing,  it  will  repay  her  citizens  to  learn  and  to 
demand  a high  position  in  the  contest  for  industrial  supremacy,  which  is  now 
open.  A new  direction  is  now  given  to  both  labor  and  capital,  and  a new  field 
for  the  national  energies  which  embraces  something  more  than  mere  commerce, 
and  more  than  simple  transportation.  It  is  the  cultivation  of  that  diversity  of 
pursuits  which  develops  all  the  wealth  of  a country  and  utilizes  all  its  natural 
resources. 


